"Dilemma" for Putin: concerns about Ukraine on two fronts?

Probably more than 1000 new soldiers in Belarus

Created: 01/08/2023, 12:10 p.m

By: Florian Naumann

Vladimir Putin, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov view a defense exhibition.

(Iconic image) © IMAGO/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin Pool

The West sees Russia in a “dilemma” in the Ukraine war.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 soldiers are expected to arrive in Belarus.

The news ticker.

• Russia

  in the

  Ukraine war

  in a "dilemma": Commanders are probably preparing for the offensive in Kiev

• Belarus

  still in focus in the Ukraine war: more than 1,000 new soldiers from Russia?

• This

  news ticker on the military situation

  in the Ukraine war is continuously updated.

London/Washington, DC – Apparently, Vladimir Putin's “ceasefire” over the Orthodox Christmas was not even a short respite in the Ukraine war: January 6th and 7th also brought reports of fighting and explosions.

And especially on the Russian side, there is obviously sometimes hectic activity.

The British Ministry of Defense attests that Kremlin troops are preparing for Ukrainian offensives in Zaporizhia or Luhansk.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is now apparently also attacking energy infrastructure in occupied areas.

And Moscow is moving troops – from Chechnya to the war zone and probably also to Belarus.

Russia in the Ukraine war in a "dilemma": Commanders are probably preparing for the offensive in Kiev

In its Sunday morning update, the British Ministry of Defense reported on Russia's "reinforced fortifications" in southern Zaporizhia Oblast.

The latest actions "very likely" indicated concerns about Ukrainian offensives - either in Zaporizhia or in Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.

In both places, loss of territory would have massive consequences, London judged.

That is why the Kremlin is now in a "dilemma" when it comes to setting priorities: in the south, a Ukrainian advance could cut important supply routes, in the east the symbolically important conquest of the Donbass could be a long way off, it was said.

On Saturday, however, the US Institute for the Study of War did not see any indications that Russia had announced an "encirclement" of the city of Bakhmut.

But there are also other problems for Russia, especially in the Donbass: After weeks of heavy Russian attacks on the Ukrainian infrastructure, Ukraine could now turn the tables.

After a gas pipeline explosion in Luhansk, the occupying authorities suspect "sabotage" - at the same time there were reports of two rocket attacks on thermal power plants in the occupied part of Donetsk.

Belarus still in focus in the Ukraine war: more than 1000 new soldiers from Russia?

Meanwhile, the Kremlin is probably moving troops.

According to the state agency TASS, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced that 300 fighters from a Chechen special unit had been brought to the war zone.

They should "help the brothers on the front line," Kadyrov said - he also tried to calm down the Russian public on Sunday.

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In addition, "700 to 800" Russian soldiers have probably been transferred to Belarus.

portal

, citing Belarusian sources.

This meant that 1,400 to 1,600 fighters had arrived in the city of Vitebsk within a short time.

Concerns about an attack on Ukraine from Belarusian territory have recently increased again.

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