In the Donbass, the situation for the Ukrainian army remains extremely difficult. In the battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Sievjerodonetsk, the defeated Ukrainian forces had to retreat. Fighting is now raging around the neighboring city of Lysychansk.
According to military expert and ex-General Mick Ryan, what looks like a slow loss of the war is a tactical reorientation by the Ukrainians. It has been a tough week for the Ukrainian armed forces. However, no sign that Ukraine is losing the war. Losing territory is bad. But it would be more fatal for the country if the troops got involved in the attrition of the Russian attackers and Ukraine lost its army entirely as a result.
In his analysis, Ryan states that the Ukrainian army must temporarily cede territory in the east in order to win the war. Accordingly, the Ukrainian army acted tactically in the battle for the city of Sievjerodonetsk. The army had fought and worn down the superior Russian troops for as long as possible. Russia was only able to make slow progress and suffered heavy losses – just like Ukraine.
The high command of the Ukrainian army made difficult decisions in view of the extremely difficult situation in Sieverodonetsk. There was political pressure to stay in the city and defend it. In addition, the Ukrainian army had to remain in Sieverodonetsk long enough to inflict enough destruction on Russian forces. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian armed forces were withdrawn and retreated to previously prepared defensive positions west of the city.
Give up territory to keep the army alive? According to Ryan, this was a “delicate balancing act on a tactical, operational and strategic level”. The reason: If the retreat is decided too late, it can be far worse for the defenders. The loss of territory was a tactical reorientation.
Therefore, Ukraine’s territorial losses cannot be interpreted as a sign that Ukraine is slowly losing the war against Russia. Rather, the Ukrainians have to give up areas at times in order to win the war.
“Despite their extreme courage, the Ukrainians must not allow themselves to be drawn into attrition by the Russian army, which prefers this tactic,” explains Ryan. The ex-general sums up: “The Ukrainians have had a terrible week they would lose the war.”
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