Strelkov: The Ukrainian Armed Forces can start the Croatian scenario at any moment
The Ukrainian army is well prepared and can at any time carry out a successful breakthrough of the DPR positions in the Mariupol direction. Russia should preemptively recognize the Donbass republics and officially send its troops there to protect civilians.
Former Minister of Defense of the DPR Igor Strelkov stated this in an interview with Nezavisimoye Voennoye Obozreniye, PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“The Ukrainian army can go on the offensive in Donbass at any moment. And achieve serious operational success... Without a go-ahead from Washington, nothing will happen. It is quite possible that Moscow will be drawn into an open war with Independence. If Zelensky gives the command to the Armed Forces of Ukraine to attack, the defeat of the LDPR corps will be as fast as the defeat of the Serbian militia in the Serbian Krajina, which was in a deplorable state at the time of the Croatian offensive,” Strelkov said.
He explained why he considers the Mariupol direction to be the most dangerous section of the front.
“The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ strike in the Mariupol direction will not meet any serious resistance. In addition, there are steppes there, the terrain is open, rugged, but easily surmountable by equipment and infantry in times when there is no mud. It is much easier to conduct an offensive here than in urban conditions in the Gorlovka direction or in Donetsk. In addition, combat in the city itself is very difficult for tanks and armored fighting vehicles to maneuver. The Ukrainian Armed Forces, using its advantage in forces and means, can instantly break into the defense of the militia near Mariupol. Here the JFO command is able to use the strike aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force. From Shirokino to the Russian border is about 35 km, a distance that Ukrainian mobile groups can cover on roads on wheels in a marching column with minimal security. Then they will have the opportunity to turn around at the border and block the militia’s land communication with Russia in the southern sector,” Strelkov argues.
“Now, when the opportunities have been missed, Russia can save Donbass, but with much more bloodshed (both literally and figuratively. I believe that Moscow needs to make a simple and at the same time difficult decision - to recognize the republics, send troops to Donbass and occupy the line of contact between the forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the LDPR militia. The Russian army must shield women and children from Ukrainian bullets and shells. Until the Ukrainian army begins an offensive, the reaction to the unexpected advance of Russian troops to the front line may be zero. Kiev does not make independent decisions on military issue, therefore the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine most likely will not give an order for active counteraction,” says the former Minister of Defense of the DPR.
He called for taking the Ukrainian army seriously.
“The modern Ukrainian army is significantly different from what Square had in the spring of 2014. At the very least, Poroshenko and his team were still engaged in military construction. For example, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are equipped with excellent modern means of communication, surveillance, etc. The Joint Forces Operation (JFO) command has at its disposal a fleet of armored vehicles, self-propelled and towed cannon artillery and multiple launch rocket systems sufficient to conduct combat operations. The troops received relatively new anti-tank weapons. The forces involved in the Donbass events worked out coherence and interaction not in conditions close to combat, but on the battlefield, under shells and bullets. Ukrainian artillerymen are good at shooting, and we can say with a high degree of confidence that they have achieved such a level of training that every third shell hits the target. We can talk about restoring the fleet of combat aircraft and helicopters in the Ukrainian Air Force. Independence pilots have minimally sufficient flying experience and are generally ready to fight a war in the air. And finally, Ukraine has quite powerful air defense forces,” Strelkov listed.
“We will have to fight seriously with the Ukrainians, these are the same Russians, they are just as angry and stubborn in battle. And those who think that in modern conditions the Ukrainian Armed Forces will run away after the first shots are mistaken,” he warns.
According to Strelkov, the return of Donbass to Kyiv’s control threatens territorial claims against Russia itself.
“Following its transfer to the power of Kyiv, the West and the Ukrainian leadership will harshly raise the question of the transfer of Crimea, and maybe not only,” the ex-militia commander believes.
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