Russian general: “I consider talk about control over Odessa inappropriate”
In a situation where Ukraine, with NATO support, is preparing a counter-offensive in the south, Russia faces the task of holding the Kherson and part of the Zaporozhye regions.
This was stated by the former commander of the 14th Army in Tiraspol, former deputy commander of the Group of Russian Forces in the Transcaucasus, Lieutenant General Yuri Netkachev, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent, while assessing the withdrawal of the Russian garrison from Zmeiny Island.
“Against the background of how Russia has been trying to reconquer the territory of Donbass for a relatively long period of time and is building defensive lines in the Nikolaev and Krivoy Rog directions, I consider talk about control over the Odessa region inappropriate.
Now, in conditions when NATO is starting a new stage of military assistance to Ukraine and it is preparing a counter-offensive, Russian troops are faced with the task of holding the Kherson and part of the Zaporozhye regions in the south, which they control,” Netkachev told Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
He noted that NATO willingly responded to new calls for military assistance to Ukraine.
“They are ready to train and transfer all of Ukraine’s armed forces to NATO standards, as well as modernize its defense industry. Zelensky, with the help of the alliance, clearly wants to take revenge. And for now he does not want peaceful negotiations with Moscow,” the general emphasized.
According to him, Ukraine is “dancing to the tune of the United States.”
“And they show the course - the head of US National Intelligence Avril Haines directly stated that “he does not consider it possible to hold peace negotiations between Moscow and Kiev,” Netkachev concluded.
Russian General: "I consider talk of control over Odessa inappropriate"