2024-03-30 06:47:44
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Kremlin sources hint at Putin’s possible war strategy in Ukraine. Kharkiv might play a decisive role – also in bringing an end to the war.
Moscow – The Ukraine war has been going on for over two years now. Last weekend, Ukrainian armed forces reported a successful attack on ships and infrastructure of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. However, Ukraine has recently suffered setbacks on the front. How might the war between the two countries develop?
According to a report by the Kyiv Post Recent anonymous information from circles close to the Kremlin suggests that Vladimir Putin is considering two potential strategies for continuing the war in Ukraine. From the independent news service Medusa Information gathered from people connected to the Russian government shows that most of Russia’s political elite believe Putin will continue the war.
Is Putin preparing for a new major offensive once morest Ukraine?
However, it remains unclear what goals Putin might pursue in the near future. A “faction” within the Kremlin-aligned information source suspects that Putin has identified vulnerabilities on the front following Ukraine’s recent setbacks and may be ready to intensify his efforts to achieve a “decisive triumph.” This might indicate a capture of the capital Kiev.
Another faction, which is also close to the Putin administration, believes that the Russian leadership might pursue “more realistic goals”. One such goal might be the capture of Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, in the east of the country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a visit to his campaign headquarters. (Archive photo) © Alexander Zemlianichenko/dpa
Sources close to the Kremlin emphasize Kharkiv’s militarily important location for further military operations
Putin has repeatedly emphasized the strategic importance of Kharkiv for Russian military strategy. He believes that a so-called sanitary zone around the Belgorod region near the border might be helpful in curbing shelling near the border. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained Putin’s proposal to the state news agency Tass: “The President believes that once morest the background of drone attacks, once morest the background of artillery shelling of our territory, security measures are being taken for certain settlements on our territory, especially social institutions and residential buildings.”
However, far-right Russian blogger Igor Skurlatov criticized the plan on Telegram: “What regarding the sanitary zone that Vladimir Putin talked regarding the other day? We all agreed that the border of this zone would best run along the western border of Ukraine. But no. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov decided that they would go through [die russische Regionalhauptstadt] Belgorod would run. Interesting turn of events. We will never win like this!” Skurlatov expressed concern regarding a “mass evacuation” on the Russian side and sincerely hopes that it is only a “temporary measure”.
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Sources close to Putin believe that another major offensive is possible – that would require mobilization
Although Putin’s statements do not yet give clear indications of possible future war actions, sources close to the Kremlin believe another major offensive on Kharkiv, the country’s second largest city, is possible. Such a scenario would require additional mobilization efforts and further Russian military buildups.
Since the beginning of the war between Russia and Ukraine, the Kharkiv region has been one of the main theaters of war. After a large-scale counteroffensive in 2022, Ukraine was able to retake much of the area. However, the city itself remains the target of Russian bombing raids.
Editor Fabian Hartmann wrote this article. Editor Bedrettin Bölükbasi then used an AI language model for optimization at his own discretion. All information has been carefully checked.
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