Due to the withdrawal from Cherson in the south of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin (70) can deploy additional troops in the east of the country. There is fierce fighting. Russian troops have recently gained ground near the city of Bakhmut. As British military scientist Michael Clarke of London’s King’s College explains to Sky News, these successes come with very high losses.
According to Clarke, fighting is particularly fierce on the front lines between the towns of Swatowe and Kreminna. There is an important road that connects Russia with the city of Luhansk. “It’s one of the main supply arteries,” he says. If the Russians lose these, they would have to endure long detours. “I think this is the most intense open combat I’ve seen since the beginning of the war.”
‘Can’t stand losing much longer’
As Clarke goes on to explain, Russia has moved airborne troops from Kherson to the Donbass region. “A few weeks ago, we thought this battle might be over. But the Russians are doing quite well in Svetove and Kreminna.” Whether Putin’s troops can sustain this pressure is another question, according to the military expert. “You can’t bear losses of this magnitude for much longer,” says Clarke.
Moscow reportedly loses between 700 and 800 soldiers a day. But the Ukrainians would also lose a significant number of troops, Clarke says, albeit less than their opponents. “But the Russians just throw men into these human wave attacks. They have criminals at the front, convicts released from prison, followed by mobilized troops and finally regular troops at the back.”
General promised to “crush the enemy”
The job of the regular troops is to shoot at anyone who retreats. “So the idea is, either you progress or you die. This results in huge losses for them.”
Putin’s top general for the war in Ukraine, Sergei Surovikin (56), is responsible for the strategy. When appointed in October, he promised high attack speed and “crush the enemy.” According to Clarke, his tactics also include pressuring the civilian population by cutting off Ukraine’s electricity supply. (no)