Ukrainian soldiers fire on a Russian position with an American cannon in Donetsk. Photo: AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin could have ordered his troops in Ukraine to carry out “a break” after gaining control of the Lugansk strategic region to reorganize, according to a paper from the American Institute of War (ISW) panel of experts. But the truth is that Russian forces continued shelling Donbas on Tuesday.
ISW experts say in their latest report that “Putin famous the Russian seizure of Lisichansk and the border of the Luhansk region and appeared to order the Russian army to execute an operational pause“.
The Russian president “met with Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu on July 4 to discuss recent Russian progress in the Lugansk region and presented Colonel General Alexander Lapin and Major General Esedulla Abachev with the ‘Hero of Russia’ award for his leadership during the Lisichansk operation, “ISW noted.
Putin and Shoigu publicly presented the capture of Lisichansk and the rest of the Luhansk region as a “great victory for Russian forces in Ukraine” and also “stated that the Russian units that participated in that battle they should rest to increase their fighting capabilities, “the report said.
Day 132 of the war: Russia focuses its attacks on Donetsk after gaining control of Lugansk
That “probably Putin’s public comment he meant to emphasize his concern for the welfare of his troops in the face of the constant complaints that are spreading in Russia about the treatment given to Russian soldiers.
The panel also believes that “it is very likely that the Russian troops who fought in Severodonetsk and Lisichansk needs a significant rest period and remount before resuming large-scale offensive operations. “
However, it is unclear whether the Russian army will accept the risks of an operational break long enough for these possibly exhausted forces to regain their strength, the US think tank concludes.
Sloviansk, the new goal
A man walks among the ruins of his home in Sloviansk. Photo: Genya Savilo / AFP
At the moment, in fact, an operational pause does not seem to have entered into force. The city of Slovyanskthe next target of the Russian forces in that region, it undergoes a “massive” bombardmentits mayor announced Tuesday.
“Sloviansk! Massive bombing of the city. The center, the north. Everyone takes refuge”Vadim Liakh, the mayor of this city in the Donetsk province of about 100,000 inhabitants before the war, said on Facebook.
Russia has focused its war efforts to ensure control of the Donbas mining and industrial basin, consisting of Donetsk and the Lugansk province, where it has the support of pro-Russian separatists.
Ukraine claims its troops continue to defend a “small” piece of territory in Lugansk, despite the fact that Russia ensures that it has total control of that territory.
With control of Lysychansk, which comes after the Russians also captured the nearby city of Severodonetsk, Russian troops can follow their advance.
In addition to Sloviansk, he is also in the sights of the Russians the city of Kramatosk, one of the last Ukrainian positions in Lugansk.
A Russian missile hit the city of Kramatorsk, one of the last Ukrainian positions in Lugansk. Photo: Genya Savilov / AFP
“The struggle continues at the administrative borders of the region,” the Ukrainian presidency said Tuesday.
One indication that Moscow is trying to consolidate supplies for a new assault is that Ukrainian forces have said that the Russians are “taking action” in Lugansk to restore transport infrastructure behind the first line.
Russian forces were also approaching the town of Siversk, the first to travel from Lugansk, after several days of bombing.
EFE and AFP
ap
Source: Clarin
