According to the newspaper, leaving Kherson would allow the Russian army to retreat across the Dnieper in an organized way, preserving equipment and saving the lives of soldiers. But such a retreat would be another humiliating public admission of Putin’s defeat in the war and would lead Ukraine to its second major victory in a month.
Kherson was the first major city captured by the Russians during the initial invasion and remains the only regional center under the control of Moscow.
Putin aims to win at all costs
The newspaper’s publication claims that after focusing on victory at any cost, Putin has become a much more public face of the war, having announced the mobilization of 300,000 civilians. Moscow proved this month that it has too few troops to continue the offensive, suffers from a lack of high-tech weapons and is unable to maintain control of the skies over Ukraine.
But US officials knowledgeable about top-secret intelligence said that behind the scenes, Putin is taking an even bigger role in the war, including telling commanders he should make strategic decisions on the ground. While Putin has accepted some of the military command’s recommendations, including mobilizing civilians, his involvement has created tensions.
The occupiers of Kherson have lost their moral spirit
Putin’s challenge to troop withdrawal from Kherson has also led to a drop in morale among Russian troops, who have largely been cut off from their supply lines and who appear to believe they may find themselves in a difficult position against the troops. Ukrainians, officials said.
“The situation in Ukraine is clearly dynamic,” US Joint Chief of Staff Mark Milley said Friday. “For now it is too early to predict precisely, but it is clear to me that the strategic initiative has passed to the Ukrainians.” However, he warned that there is still “a long way” to go.
According to US officials, Putin’s disagreement over the front line in Kherson shows how critical the war in southern Ukraine is for both sides. Despite Ukraine’s recent gains in the northeast, the area around Kherson is an important battlefield with serious strategic implications for Kiev and Moscow.
Some American officials said they saw problems for the Russian military on the southern war front. A senior US official said this week that Ukraine is on track to repeat the success of its forces in the south in a lightning offensive in the northeast earlier this month. According to US officials, if Ukraine pushes Russian troops further back, Putin’s hard-fought land bridge to Crimea could be threatened.
The withdrawal of troops from Kherson is just the latest in line between Putin and his high command. According to US officials, senior Russian officials have repeatedly questioned early plans for the war, especially the early stage, which involved a swift attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. According to American officials, Russian officials believed Putin was going to war with insufficient troops and weapons.
The anxiety of the Russian officers did not remain without consequences
The anxiety of the Russian officers was justified and, after the defeat of the Russian army in Kiev, Putin loosened his control over military planning. According to US officials, he allowed high-level generals to develop a new strategy centered around massive artillery fire. The new strategy was effectively a grueling war of attrition that aided the Russian army and allowed it to advance troops into eastern Ukraine.
Ever since Putin ordered his commanders to continue combat operations in Kherson, the Russian army has been trying to stop the advance of Ukrainian units there. Last week, the Russians blew up a dam on the Inhulace River to thwart the current counter-offensive.
But the Ukrainian attacks blew up the crossings across the Dnieper, largely cutting Russian troops off their supply routes on the other side. According to Ukrainian officials, the Russians had to use pontoon bridges over the river just to come under fire from Ukrainian troops. “They have units there that, if the Ukrainians break through, they will be cut off and surrounded,” said Seth Jones, senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
We remind you that, according to CNN, Russian President Vladimir Putin himself gives instructions to the generals. This is a very unusual leadership tactic in today’s military, which hints at an ineffective leadership structure.
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