The last day, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhny, met with the generals of NATO countries. He described this communication as very important for Ukraine. We talked about the training of the Ukrainian army, the situation in Bakhmut, the counterattack and the supply of weapons. He understood what else the commander-in-chief could talk about and how this would affect the situation at the front. Focus.
Colleagues attending the meeting included: NATO’s Supreme Commander of the Allied Armed Forces in Europe – General Christopher Cavoli, Commander of US Forces in Europe, Admiral Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defense Staff of Great Britain, Chief of Staff General Raimund Andrzejczak, Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, and Ukraine General Lieutenant Antonio Aguto, Commander of the Security Assistance Group.
“Any meeting of this level takes place as it is necessary to discuss further actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the combat zone, adjust the plans and get the support of international partners,” he says. Focus Alexander Kovalenko, coordinator of the group “Information resistance”. “They help us determine what we need to increase productivity, what weapons we can get and when. There are also other components that are discussed, such as intelligence and intelligence information. There are many positions that need to be talked about and that need to be talked about often.”
hold bahmut
Andriy Yermak, head of the Presidential Office, recalled the meeting between General Zaluzhny and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley, at a recent meeting with journalists. Yermak claims that during the phone call, the decision to keep Bakhmut was once again decided.
“Do not back down and get stronger” – this is exactly the decision made the day before. Commander-in-Chief meeting.
If you look at the maps of the DeepState project, the situation in the Bakhmut region raises more and more questions. Russian troops occupied the eastern parts of the city along the right bank of the Bakhmutka River, and the distance between the northern and southern edges, where Ukrainian troops are stationed, is not more than four kilometers. This “neck” – the supply route, which the Ukrainian army did not allow to narrow, and was constantly bombarded by the enemy.
Experts call the defense of Bakhmut tactical – to contain the previously announced offensive of the Russians, which they launched in January. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has spoken about it earlier, and Yevgeny Prigozhin, curator of Wagner PMC, assured that if it succeeds, an operational space will open up. For the Russians, the Bakhmut area has been a priority for several months, but they cannot break through the Ukrainian defenses there. And they say at the American Institute for War Studies (ISW) that Bakhmut is unlikely to be operationally or tactically important to the Russians – his capture will not contribute to any further advance of the invaders. Donetsk region due to significant losses of Russian troops.
According to CNN sources in NATO intelligence: When Ukraine loses one fighter in Bakhmut, Russia loses five. Thus, today Bakhmut fulfills its main purpose – to get power from the Russians. There, the invaders are losing thousands of soldiers and hundreds of equipment.
“I think the situation in Bakhmut will not change in the near future. It will mainly be the defense by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. There is no talk of a counterattack in Bakhmut, as long as only counterattacks are possible there,” Kovalenko continues.
With thoughts of counterattack
But still, the main topic of Zaluzhny’s negotiations with NATO partners is the future spring counterattack of the Ukrainian army.
They have been talking about him for several months, both in Ukraine and in the West. In this sense, Bakhmut is important not only as a deterrent: favorable conditions are created in this area for a retaliatory attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. As the fighting continues in Bakhmut, Ukraine is creating reserves and acquiring Western equipment.
Experts state that in the last three months Ukraine has received and will receive more equipment than could be imagined since the beginning of the invasion. The Economist, for example, writes that 40% of all military aid promised by the Pentagon since the start of the war — more than $8 million — arrived within three months of December 9. That is, after the moment when the United States and NATO partners decided that a protracted war in Ukraine is unprofitable for the world and an opportunity to end everything faster. In conclusion – Almost a third of the Ukrainian army will soon have NATO standard equipment. Also, instead of strengthening Bakhmut, Zaluzhny sent the Ukrainian army to study abroad. Therefore, since January, the training command of the 7th US Army has been conducting five-week courses for Ukrainian units at the Grafenwehr training ground in Germany.
“I think that the Ukrainian side is openly discussing the upcoming counterattack with the US representatives. This means that not only aid and weapons are coordinated with them, but also decisions are made regarding the exercises of the Ukrainian army,” he says. Focus American political scientist, Internews-Ukraine analyst Vladislav Faraponov. – It’s not just about training, it’s also about acquiring tactical skills to use in a counterattack. And it is expected both in Ukraine and in the USA. But in fact, the American side has not yet recovered, to put it mildly, from the successful counter-offensive in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions. The fact of several successful operations for them is very important. This experience shows that despite the complexity and long occupation of these regions, Ukraine has managed to break through, which means that it is necessary to continue supporting Ukraine.”
Important
Meanwhile, in a comment to The Economist, Valery Zaluzhny announced that three corps would be formed, each consisting of six brigades, with a total of 60,000 attack fighters.
“Such a resource is not enough to liberate all the occupied territories, but enough for a separate counterattack in one of the directions,” the military expert answers.
Kovalenko argues that Zaluzhny’s public statements about the creation of new troops can be seen both as an informational special operation and as an element of dialogue with international partners. And also as a way to put pressure on the Russian command.
Where to start a new Ukrainian counteroffensive is an open question. Some Western analysts predict that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will head south – towards Melitopol, Zaporozhye region.
“There are now several bridgeheads where we can conduct counterattack operations. These are the Kherson district on the left bank, the Zaporozhye district, the Lugansk region,” says the coordinator of the Information Resistance group. This scenario differs from those used in 2022 in the northern bridgehead, Kharkiv area and Kherson area on the right bank “According to the same guideline, only the invaders are conducting offensive operations. The counterattacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are the same scenarios. I’m expecting something completely unexpected.”
From rockets to airplanes
For the counterattack, Ukraine needs not only new forces and equipment, but also additional weapons.
Ukraine has already received one of the two Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems promised by Germany and the USA. This was reported by the British newspaper Financial Times.
“The issue of ATACAM missiles may have been raised at a meeting with NATO representatives, but we must understand that Western partners are not ready to supply us with these missiles,” continues Alexander Kovalenko. it doesn’t have that many missiles. The production process is no longer commercialized. The transfer of HIMARS and GLSDB rockets is possible, but with ATACAMs everything is much more complicated. long-range weapons, then this, first of all, I’m sure, a GLSDB or an air-launched missile Storm Will there be a shadow? Although that is a completely different question – we will talk about exactly how this weapon will be.
Zaluzhny also talks to his NATO colleagues about airplanes. Recently, in a telephone conversation with the Chief of Staff of the United States, Mark Milley, the commander-in-chief reminded him of the need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense, including F-16 aircraft. After that, the Spokesperson of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yuriy Ignat said that the process has begun: Poland and Slovakia made statements that they are ready to transfer to Ukraine, although there are Soviet aircraft – MiG, if not American aircraft. -29, as part of an international coalition to provide aircraft.
Source: Focus
Bridger is a political journalist at 24 News Breaker, covering the Politics section with over 5 years of experience. Known for their detail-oriented reporting, Bridger delivers insightful and engaging analysis on political issues.