Russia shifts focus, tries to defeat Ukrainian troops in the east

Ukrainian soldier standing on a damaged Russian vehicle

Unable to win a quick victory because of strong Ukrainian resistance, Russia is increasingly focused on defeating the Ukrainian army in the east of the country, hoping to force Kiev to give up its territory here to can end the war.

The majority of Ukraine’s troops are concentrated in the east of the country, where they are battling pro-Russian separatists, according to the Associated Press. If Russia succeeds in encircling and destroying Ukrainian forces in the industrial heart of the Donbass, then Moscow can impose its conditions on Kiev and split Ukraine in half.

The Russian military announced on March 25 that the first phase of the operation was almost completed, allowing them to focus on the main goal of liberating the Donbass. However, many observers commented that this change in strategy reflects the unsuccessful Russian plan to attack Ukraine quickly.

U.S. and British officials also note that Moscow is increasingly focused on countering Ukrainian forces in the east while maintaining positions around Kiev and other cities while firing rockets and artillery repeatedly into those areas. this place.

The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov, said on March 27 that this shift in focus may reflect hopes of dividing Ukraine into two parts. Currently, Russia has not revealed its targets military specific or tentative schedule.

So far, Russia has not been able to gain control of the capital Kiev, Ukraine’s second largest city Kharkiv and other major cities in the northeast due to encountering Ukrainian defenses.

Destruction in Ukraine after Russian attacks. Photo: AP

Mykola Sunhurovskyi, a military analyst at the Razumkov think tank, based in Kiev, said that Russia has now abandoned efforts to attack Kiev and other major Ukrainian cities and is only encircling it to weaken Ukraine. “Russia has changed its tactics… to reallocate forces and prepare for the next phase of the war.”

Russian forces have besieged the key strategic port of Mariupol for weeks, attacking the city with rockets and shells. The fall of Mariupol would allow Russian troops there and another group from Kharkiv to encircle the Ukrainian army to the east.

A senior US defense official noted that Russia is focusing on the Donbass. And that President Putin hopes to control all of eastern Ukraine while forcing other Ukrainian forces to defend Kiev and other areas. Since then, Russia has pressured the President of Ukraine to officially relinquish control of Donbass.

Hoai Linh