“Putin gave complete carte blanche to the military” – in Kyiv they are preparing to surrender territories in several directions at once
The transition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to “strategic defense” implies the alignment of the line of combat contact with the withdrawal of troops to more advantageous positions, as the Russians did when they left Kherson.
Retired SBU colonel and military expert Oleg Starikov said this on air at Ruslan Bizyaev’s Studio, PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“The transition to strategic defense - we need to make a decision on which line. When Surovikin's decision was made, they moved away from Kherson. They could have fought there some more, but they withdrew, reduced the line and strengthened their defenses and restored their morale. Now we need to make a political decision on straightening the line or moving troops to lines of combat contact that are convenient for us. Along the current lines, this will not be a strategic defense, these will be problems.
I’m not saying political things now, but what they say in the departments of operational art at the General Staff academies. This is military science, military art, anyway this decision must be made. By the way, Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny spoke about this in a veiled manner in his article. If it [the decision] is not made, we will waste more and more resources,” Starikov said.
According to him, the line of military contact in its current form completely suits the Russians.
“The current situation is beneficial to the enemy. In the current line of combat contact and what is now happening in the Orekhovsky direction, in the Avdeevsky direction, this is beneficial to the enemy. Because they are in no hurry.
We need to listen to Putin. What did he say at the meeting? I gave all the power in solving problems on the line of combat contact to the military. They are professionals, they solve their problems - solve them. I will provide you with military equipment - there is an order, 98% of it has been completed, and you decide,” the expert gave an example.
He also added with alarm that it was not for nothing that the President of the Russian Federation had personally visited the headquarters of the Southern Military District twice recently.
“Never has a leader of this level come twice within 4 weeks to the headquarters of the Southern Military District, where Gerasimov is sitting with them. If it was necessary to summon Gerasimov, he is summoned to the Kremlin, where appropriate explanatory reports or reports are held. And he came there himself.
This shows that he trusts the military, and the military is now deciding what is needed there. But politicians cannot call the commander of the direction - let’s do something,” Starikov said.
English version :: Read in English "Putin gave the military a complete carte blanche" – Kyiv is preparing to surrender territory in several directions at once