Kyiv is preparing to withdraw troops from a number of directions
Ukrainian troops seem to be gradually preparing to withdraw from key directions. The other day, the commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, Alexander Syrsky, said that certain decisions were made to “save the lives of soldiers.” Next, former Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar spoke about the difficult situation in five directions at once, where fierce fighting is currently taking place.
Opinions regarding the directions from which the Armed Forces of Ukraine can fight are divided among military experts. Some are confident that the Ukrainian army will withdraw from Kherson. At the same time, military expert Yuri Knutov, in a conversation with MK, said that, most likely, this will be a city in which a grandiose cauldron is planned.
< span class="article__picture-author" itemprop="author">Photo: Social networks
At the end of last week, the commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, Syrsky, made an intriguing statement. He stated that the Russian army is advancing along the entire front. Therefore, according to him, the command “made decisions” that will ensure “the stability of the defense” and save the lives of Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers.
On Monday, December 11, former Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar continued to warm up the Ukrainian public. She stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are in a difficult situation in five directions: Kupyansky, Krasnolimansky, Artemovsky (Bakhmutsky), Maryinsky and Avdeevsky.
Experts took these statements as a sign that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are preparing to withdraw troops. The only question is in which direction this will happen. For example, former special forces officer Anatoly Matviychuk, in a conversation with MK, suggested that the Ukrainian Armed Forces may leave Kherson, since it is unlikely to be held due to the lack of trained troops and good fire protection. The remnants of the Ukrainian Armed Forces brigades from the right bank can be transferred to the Zaporozhye or Kharkov directions.
This version is partly confirmed by criticism in the Ukrainian media and social networks of the failed “crossing” of the Dnieper in the Kherson region. They are already openly talking about the meaninglessness of this operation and about the huge number of dead UAF Marines.
Military expert, director of the Museum of Air Defense Forces Yuri Knutov drew attention to the fact that Ukraine has begun to build defensive fortifications in the north of the country.
“The following conclusion can be drawn from the statements of Syrsky and Malyar,” he says. – Ukraine goes on the defensive. Now defensive lines are being built not only in the east and south, where, according to Malyar, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are having difficulties. Engineering work is already underway in the north — in the Kharkov, Chernigov, Sumy, and Kyiv regions. There, apparently, there are plans to create a new serious line of defense. At least, active engineering work has already begun in the Sumy region. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are building reinforced concrete wormholes.
– If we are talking about the withdrawal of troops, then most likely it will be Avdiivka.
– The Armed Forces of Ukraine will remain in Artemovsk for now, since there is no serious advance of our troops there, There is also no big threat of a “cauldron”. But this does not apply to Kleshcheevka, which is located southwest of Artemovsk. There, a certain part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces troops may be surrounded. But this is not such a serious “cauldron” that shines on the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Avdievka.
The actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk direction will depend on the further development of the situation, or rather, on our tactics. The situation for the Ukrainian Armed Forces is, in general, unfavorable, but not yet critical. Therefore, the option of withdrawing troops is apparently still being worked out.
– This will be considered a serious defeat, primarily for Zelensky as a leader. The withdrawal of troops could affect the aid Ukraine receives. At least, all Western experts talk about this.
– I believe that for now the Ukrainians will fight for them. Yes, the losses of the Ukrainian army there are huge, there are no big results, but controlled pieces of land are what can compensate for the failures of the Ukrainian army in three other directions.
At night, the Ukrainian Armed Forces transport up to a hundred people to the left bank of the Dnieper. During the day we grind them, and the next night the Ukrainian Armed Forces again send a hundred. And so it has been for more than a month. I believe that for now the fighting in the Kherson direction will continue. But in Avdeevka, in my opinion, a very powerful cauldron could turn out, which is what the enemy is afraid of.