Putin is becoming more involved in war strategy -- and forbidding generals from withdrawing from Cherson
Created: 09/24/2022, 17:08
By: Bettina Menzel
Does he only trust himself?
Vladimir Putin (centre) with his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (right) and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.
© Sergei Savostyanov/Kremlin Pool/Imago
Vladimir Putin apparently wants to hold onto the city of Cherson in southern Ukraine at any price - and is now forbidding his generals to retreat.
This creates tension and undermines the morale of the troops.
Cherson - Russia is under enormous military pressure.
President Vladimir Putin is now reportedly becoming more involved in the war strategy and allegedly issuing direct orders to the front.
He is said to have personally forbidden his generals to withdraw from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, according to a report in the
New York Times (NYT)
on Friday.
Vladimir Putin forbids his generals to withdraw from Cherson - and endangers human lives
Cherson was the first major city to fall to Russian troops in the Ukraine War and is currently the only district capital still under Moscow control.
After Ukrainian troops were able to recapture thousands of square kilometers of the country in their successful counter-offensive, Vladimir Putin apparently wants to hold Cherson in southern Ukraine at any price.
For the Kremlin chief, withdrawing would be tantamount to admitting defeat -- and it would be Ukraine's second major success in just one month.
According to the NYT
report, Russian generals had
pushed for an orderly withdrawal of their troops from the southern city.
This would have made it possible for them to get supplies and equipment on the other side of the Dnieper River - and probably save the lives of many soldiers.
Military experts believe that the front in the south could also be held with fewer troops.
However, Putin refused to withdraw and ordered his generals to continue fighting in Cherson.
This command caused tension and apparently also had a negative impact on the morale of the Russian troops, which is already considered poor.
What the loss of Kherson would mean for Russia
According to the report, Putin ignored the recommendations of his commanders - and is now determining the strategy himself.
Despite Ukrainian advances east of Kharkiv, Russia remains focused on the south.
Most of the tens of thousands of soldiers that Russia sent to the Kherson area are staying where they are, including some of the Russian army's best combat troops.
Because the front line in southern Ukraine is of great importance for both Kyiv and Moscow.
According to NYT
experts, from a Russian point of view
even the land bridge to Crimea could be in danger - if Ukraine were able to push back Russian forces further.
Votes on a Russian annexation, which violate international law, are currently underway in Cherson.
A withdrawal of Russian troops would also jeopardize this "referendum".
Military expert sees discrepancy between Putin's political goals and his military means
Kremlin soldiers blew up a dam on the Inhulets River last week to halt Ukraine's counter-offensive in the south.
However, the Ukrainians were able to score some successes by destroying crossings over the Dnieper River, thus largely cutting off the supply routes of the Russian troops.
"They have units there that will be cut off and encircled if the Ukrainians break through the lines," political scientist and CSIS think tank vice president Seth G. Jones told the
New York Times
.
"I can't stress enough how delicate the situation is for her."
also read
Ex-oligarch warns the West: In this scenario, "Putin will be at the NATO border tomorrow"
"Milk cows of the nation": Shortly before the relief summit, Scholz received an angry fire letter from Bavaria
Military expert Michael Kofman sees the situation in Kherson as an example of the discrepancy between Putin's political goals and his military resources.
"At key decision points, Putin has hesitated and refused to acknowledge reality until the odds have worsened," Kofman said.
The Kremlin chief now wants to increase the number of Russian soldiers with a partial mobilization, but war researchers do not assume that this measure will have any short-term effects on the course of the war.