As of: February 14, 2024, 9:16 p.m
By: Sandra Kathe
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Press
Split
Ukraine has been defending the small town of Avdiivka against massive Russian attacks for months.
Now Russia's troops have advanced further.
Kiev - The Ukrainian military leadership now wants to use special forces in the fight against the advanced Russian troops in front of the city of Avdiivka, which is now said to be difficult to reach from Ukraine.
Experts see this as an indication of a change in strategy by the Ukrainian forces, which only had a new commander-in-chief a few days ago and are warning that Ukraine could face heavy losses.
As the US newspaper
Forbes
reports, the 3rd assault brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces is now said to have taken over the defense of the city.
Avdiivka has been under constant fire as a Ukrainian bulwark for months and has already caused massive losses for Russia.
However, if Russian troops manage to advance further, analysts warn, the unit, which numbers around 2,000 men, would risk being cut off in Avdiivka.
As Russia's soldiers continue to advance on Avdiivka, the Ukrainian armed forces are in danger of being cut off here.
Experts see the strategy as risky.
(Symbolic photo) © Genya Savilov/AFP
Risky turnaround before Avdiivka: What role the USA plays in it
However, experts also read it as a possible change in Ukrainian military strategy that could be brought about by the new commander-in-chief Olexander Syrskyj.
As
Forbes
reports, the 58-year-old, whom Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj appointed at the head of his armed forces this week, is considered to be much more willing to take risks than his predecessor Valeriy Zalushnyj.
He is also known for a more static fighting style.
What also makes the situation more difficult are the political discussions in the USA, where Republican representatives have been blocking aid to Ukraine for several weeks.
Until now, the United States has been seen as Ukraine's main supporter in its attempt to defend itself against Russia's aggression in the Ukraine War.
Forbes
also quotes
the Ukrainian military expert, Mykola Bielieskow, who recently warned in a podcast that Ukraine would pay for its missing ammunition with “first-person view drones and of course human lives”.
Avdiivka is located just a few kilometers north of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk in the Ukrainian region of the same name.
Problems at the front: Commander-in-Chief Syrskyj admits personnel problems
According to a report by the German Press Agency,
even Syrskyj himself
admitted personnel problems during a visit to the front areas in Avdiivka and Kupyansk and admitted that the operational situation was “extremely difficult and tense”.
The garrison's supply corridor has shrunk to less than five kilometers after months of fighting.
In addition to the soldiers deployed in Avdiivka, the risk of encirclement also affects around 1,000 civilians remaining in the city.
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The fact that experts particularly warn about this risk is also due to Ukraine's military structure, which, in addition to the 3rd Attack Brigade, only has one other special unit of this type.
Their more active attack strategy could help to slow down the advance of Russian troops somewhat in the next few days, but experts do not currently see the right time for an attack and advance by Ukraine.
(saka with dpa)