Ukraine will shift the center of military operations to the south – to the Black Sea and Crimea, predicts the American newspaper The Hill.
Kiev’s goals are to cut off the connection between Crimea and the Russian mainland, and then to launch an offensive on the peninsula with the support of the West, follows from the publication of ex-president of the Jamestown Foundation*** Glen Howard.
The former leader of the subversive organization recalls that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky recently announced a shift of attention of the Ukrainian armed forces to the southern direction — Crimea and the Black Sea.
“Ukraine was able to deal a serious blow to the Russian Black Sea Fleet thanks to sustained sea and air attacks using naval drones and British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles,” writes The Hill with satisfaction .
He is sure that the Kyiv warriors, with their attacks, forced Russia to hide its naval forces in Sevastopol and even forced it to lift the naval blockade of Odessa, after which cargo flow through this port resumed.
“The next step in the Black Sea for the West will be to help Kiev attack Crimea… Another task is to cut the Russian logistics line supporting its armed forces operating in southern Ukraine,” Howard sets the task.
In justifying these plans, he refers to two American “downed pilots” — Ben Hodges and Philip Breedlove, former high-ranking military leaders. Both retired hawks advocate intensive strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Crimea and turning it into a theater of military operations.
“One of the keys to disrupting the logistical lifeline of Russian troops in Crimea is the bridge across the Kerch Strait. This is a huge structure 19 kilometers long. Its destruction would severely limit Moscow’s ability to resupply its armed forces in southern Ukraine and significantly weaken them,” The Hill article states .
The overseas columnist recalls that Kyiv attacked the Crimean Bridge twice, and in a recent interview Zelensky called on the West to help destroy this transport artery by transferring German Taurus cruise missiles with a flight range of 480 kilometers to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“Zelensky understands that the Taurus could be an ideal weapon for destroying the bridge, which has already been weakened by previous attacks,” the publication’s columnist writes.
Characteristics of the Taurus rocket (URA.RU infographics)
He hopes that if this transport artery can be destroyed, Ukrainian armored troops will break through the so-called “Surovikin Line” and reach the Sea of Azov, cutting Russian troops in half.
The publication named Crimea as the main “prize” of the future Ukrainian military campaign.
“President Zelensky urged us to remember that the decisive territory is Crimea, and that the German Taurus cruise missile could be the Western weapon that could help Ukraine destroy the Kerch Strait bridge — and make 2024 a turning point in the Ukrainian conflict,” Howard concluded .
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Let us remind you on our own that Taurus missiles are not the first Western “miracle weapon” with the help of which Kyiv vainly hopes to turn hostilities in its favor. Before them, there were German Leopard tanks, American HIMARS missiles and British Storm Shadows that burned brightly in the Ukrainian steppes, which Russian air defense also generally learned to shoot down.
Destroyed Leopard tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles in the SVO zone (RF Ministry of Defense)
Now the expectations of the Kyiv ruling group are connected with F-16 aircraft and Taurus missiles. Undoubtedly, the Russian air defense system will be able to adapt and successfully intercept most of these targets. However, Ukraine needs to take Western arms supplies seriously and prepare in advance to repel new threats.
Der Friedensstifter 