How strong is Ukraine’s Donbass combat group?
After more than a month of conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the battlefield situation has gradually cleared, Ukraine has seriously misjudged the main strategy of the Russian Army.
At the beginning of the conflict, the Russian Army used elite and mechanized airborne units to conduct the operation to encircle Kiev, which convinced Ukraine that the main direction of the Russian Army’s attack was towards the capital Kiev.
As a result, Ukraine used its forces mainly in the north and most of its strategic reserve, all focused on defending Kiev.
However, the Russian Army did not launch a general attack on Kiev, but focused on attacking the Donbass cluster of Ukraine, destroying the two-wing support of the Ukrainian Army in the Mariupol and Izum areas.
Map of the Donbass Defense Cluster of the Ukrainian Army today.
The battles on both sides of the Donbass took place fiercely. As the Russian Army narrowed the front from Kiev and other directions, more and more Russian troops were reinforced for the siege of the Donbass area. As it turned out, the main target of the Russian Army’s attack from beginning to end was the Donbass direction.
“Donbass Combat Cluster” refers to the elite combat corps, deployed by the Ukrainian Army in the direction of Donbass. The total strength of the operational cluster is about 60,000 troops, including the most elite combat units of the Ukrainian Army.
Over the past 8 years, the Ukrainian Army has invested in building in the Donbass fortified defensive positions of concrete and this continuous defense system is difficult to break from the front.
Russia’s Tactics and Ukraine’s Mission in Donbass
Also within the above considerations, the Russian Army initially did not choose to break through from the front, but launched a large-scale pincer attack, first attacking the two wings of the Donbass Combat Group of Ukraine, form a siege campaign.
In addition, attacking such fortified areas requires long-term fire preparation, so the Russian Army continues to attack command systems, warehouses, transport hubs, heavy equipment. and firing positions of the Ukrainian Army’s operational cluster during the past month.
The aim of the Russian troops was to weaken the combat potential of this defensive area as much as possible. Currently, the battle group has lost the ability to defend mobile, and can only perform passive defense.
In the upcoming Donbass campaign, tanks will be used a lot in combat.
The Donbass Combat Group is one of the most powerful combat-grade corps of the Ukrainian Army in the eastern region that, once destroyed, will deal a heavy blow to the Ukrainian Army’s eastern defensive operations.
A large number of brigade-level units, with great investment, have been formed since the outbreak of the Ukrainian civil war in 2014. If these units are destroyed, the Ukrainian Army will lose its ability to stop the Russian troops on the side. bronze.
Therefore, from a strategic point of view, the top priority of the Ukrainian Army is to do everything to relieve the siege, destroy the Donbass campaign cluster of the Russian Army and rescue their Donbass battle group.
Currently, Ukraine’s Donbass campaign cluster is in a disadvantageous position when it is surrounded on three sides. Due to the loss of effective anti-aircraft protection and basic maneuverability, if the Ukrainian Army withdrew hastily, they would be likely to be pursued by the Russian army.
Therefore, Ukraine’s Donbass campaign group must definitely choose to rely on solid fortifications to deploy defense on the spot.
Currently, the top priority of the Ukrainian Army is to ensure the continuity of the Donbass operation cluster and the communication corridor with the rear rear, so that the Donbass operation group can be continuously resupply. This is also the basic premise to be able to defend against the attack of the Russian Army.
Faced with the situation that the Russian Army concentrated its forces in the Donbass direction more and more, especially from the flanks and flanks, in order to avoid the Donbass army being surrounded and destroyed, the Ukrainian Army had to organize battles. powerful release.
The Ukrainian forces defending the rear, in addition to ensuring the security of the rear route of the Donbass campaign group, must also perform well defensive tasks, ensure the safety of the flanks, or serve as a reserve force. counterattack of the Donbass defensive cluster.
If this force does not complete the task, let the situation worsen, then the group of troops on the main defense direction may no longer have the opportunity to withdraw, or be destroyed. Therefore, Ukraine must quickly create a new combat force.
How does Ukraine prepare for Operation Donbass?
In fact, the wartime mobilization of the Ukrainian Army was carried out very quickly and on a large scale. Currently, the Ukrainian Army has conducted 2 waves of general mobilization. Phase 1 mobilized 9 reserve brigades, phase 2 mobilized 25 reserve brigades, with a force of up to 200,000 troops.
However, with such a huge force, the most important issue was the issue of weapons and equipment.
Because the Russian military has air superiority and uses tactical ballistic missiles, and long-range cruise missiles to continuously attack heavy equipment of the Ukrainian Army and rear equipment gathering points. The Ukrainian army suffered serious losses in equipment, especially tanks and armor.
Before the war, the Ukrainian Army was equipped with 2,400 tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, but at the present time, more than 1,600 vehicles have been lost (accounting for nearly 70%).
An armored bunker gun emplacement built by the Ukrainian Army in Donbass.
However, if it wants to rescue the Donbass campaign cluster, the Ukrainian Army must invest in armored units with strong offensive capabilities and mobility, otherwise they will suffer serious losses.
According to the latest announcement, the US has decided to cooperate with other NATO member states to provide Ukraine with 900 T-72 main battle tanks to enhance the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian Army.
The predecessors of many current NATO members are allies of the Soviet Union, so they are equipped with a lot of Soviet-made T-72 tanks. As a result, they can quickly supply the Ukrainian Army with tanks, with which they are familiar.
According to statistics, Poland can supply 721 T-72 tanks, the Czech Republic can supply 116, Hungary can supply 105 and a total of 942 T-72 tanks can be mobilized for Ukraine.
If these tanks are successfully handed over to the Ukrainian Army, the number will be enough to form a dozen armored and motorized brigades.
Previously, Western countries have provided Ukraine with light weapons such as hand-held missiles, but this is the first time that large-scale support for heavy equipment such as main battle tanks has been carried out. .
This also confirms that the situation on the Ukrainian battlefield is deteriorating, the Ukrainian army has suffered serious losses in heavy equipment and needs to be replenished urgently.
If this batch of T-72 main battle tanks can be transported to Ukraine in a short time, they can help the Ukrainian Army quickly rebuild the armored brigades and motorized infantry brigades that have been destroyed. previous losses, even forming a number of new reserve armored brigades, to strengthen the Donbass front.
Donbass can be a “strategic decisive” battle of both Russia and Ukraine. The Russian and Ukrainian armies will give their all, and the outcome will be decided in this battle.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: Soha.vn – Read the original article here
