According to British intelligence and US analysts, Russian troops have been unable to make significant profits over the last 24 hours in the attack in Ukraine, as defenders’ counterattacks have hampered their efforts.
British intelligence said on April 23 Operational update Ukraine’s airspace and its Black Sea waters remain in conflict as the Russian Air Force and Navy were unable to establish control in either territory “due to the effectiveness of Ukraine’s air and sea defenses.” ..
“Despite increased activity, Russian troops have not made significant profits in the last 24 hours, as Ukrainian counterattacks continue to hinder their efforts,” the British Ministry of Defense said.
“Minor gain”
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US think tank, said on Friday that Russian troops had succeeded in securing “minor interests” in attacks along contact lines in eastern Ukraine. Where they couldn’t move forward.
According to the ISW, Russia’s permanent goal, which the Kremlin calls a “special military operation,” will occupy the entire province of Donetsk and Luhansk and prevent Ukraine’s counterattack on April 22, according to Rustam Minekaev, Deputy Commander of the Central Military District. Said that. South.
Minekaev said Russian rule in southern Ukraine would provide Russian troops with the ability to carry out offensive operations against Transnistoria, a separatist republic in eastern Moldova, but this is imminent, ISW analysts said. He said it was not a sign of an attack.
Land corridor to Transnistoria?
“Russian rule in southern Ukraine will provide another way to Transnistoria, an illegally occupied Russian-occupied territory in Moldova,” ISW analysts said. population. ‘”
One of the Kremlin’s important justifications for invading Ukraine was to claim that Russian-speaking people in the Separatist-dominated Donbas and Luhansk regions were exposed to oppression and “genocide.” ..
A long list of scholars and scholars Blame Ukraine’s genocide as a false excuse and Russia’s claim of “denazification” meant justifying an “unprovoked attack” on its southern neighbors.
ISW analysts say they have not read Minekaev’s remarks “as an expression of their intention to carry out a large-scale attack on Moldova” in order for the Russian commander to carry out an attack on Transnistoria. He added that he believes he is referring to his “future capabilities.”
According to ISW analysts, the attack on Moldova was “land corridor” by Russian commanders, similar to the one connecting the separatist-dominated Donetsk and Luhansk regions to the Russian annexed Crimea. It is likely to be expressed as “securing.”
“Even if Russian troops try to resume large-scale offensive operations against Mykolaiv and Odesa, they are very unlikely to have the ability to do so,” ISW analysts added.
Missile hit Odesa
Still, there were reports on Saturday that Russian troops launched missiles at the port of Odessa in the Black Sea, relatively close to Transnistoria.
Anton Herashchenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Minister, said in a Telegram post that Russian troops had launched at least six cruise missiles in Odesa, and Ukrainian troops could shoot down some of them. He added.
At least one missile landed and exploded, Graschenko wrote, adding that one was killed.
“Urban residents have heard explosions in different areas,” he wrote. “The house was attacked.”
The Epoch Times could not confirm the alleged Russian missile attack.
Several Ukrainian officials support Graschenko’s report.
Inna Sovsun, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, said: Saturday Tweet Russian missiles “just attacked Odesa”, and this was clearly a sign that Russian troops were proceeding “for this crazy plan to build a corridor to Transnistoria.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba Said in a tweet “The sole purpose of Russia’s missile attack on Odesa is terrorism,” he said, demanding that Russia be designated as a national supporter of terrorism.
“There are no businesses, no contacts, no cultural projects. We need a wall while civilizations and barbarians attack peaceful cities with missiles,” he said.
Last major attack
Michael Coffman, Director of Russian Studies at CNA, said: A series of tweets On Saturday, he believes Russia’s efforts at Donbus are the last major attack that Moscow can rally, given the current state of its military power.
“Without national mobilization, I think Donbus is the last major attack the Russian army can attempt, given its current state and the availability of the army. Will it succeed or fail? Regardless, the Russian army will be largely exhausted in terms of potential attacks, “Koffman wrote.
“Does this give a hint of a stalemate? This is not always the case,” said Koffman, who said Ukraine has the option of a counterattack, but Russia strengthens its territorial interests and imposes a blockade on Ukraine. He added that he might try to put pressure on the army.
Mr. Koffman said he was reluctant to predict how the Battle of Dombås would unfold.
“The results can range from profitable Russian troops to suffering another serious defeat,” he said.
As part of that, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that the besieged city of Mariupol had been “liberated” and declared some kind of limited victory. The army remains pierced.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian troops not to attack the plant, but instead apparently stop it in order to contain the remaining pockets of resistance.
Ukrainian officials say about 1,000 civilians, including women and children, remain in the Azov Battalion compound with bunkers designed to withstand direct missile attacks and an extensive underground network of corridors. increase.
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Tom Ozimek has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communication, and adult education. The best writing advice he has ever heard is from Roy Peter Clark.