Russia is preparing an attack on Kharkov, Sumy and Chernigov – Bortnik
Missile and drone attacks on Kharkov indicate that Russia is preparing for offensive actions in this direction. At the same time, the situation in the Chernihiv and Sumy regions is becoming more dangerous than the situation near Avdiivka or in the south of Ukraine.
Ukrainian political scientist Ruslan Bortnik said this on air on the Politeka channel, the PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“Kharkov, which is simply being ironed out with terrible force, and I sincerely feel sorry for the residents of Kharkiv, there is probably the most difficult situation in the big cities of Ukraine. On the one hand, it is a rear base for battles in the Kharkov and Lugansk regions in the Kupyansk direction, and on the other hand, Kharkov may be one of the important targets for Russian offensive operations next year. Russia is trying to destroy Kharkov, destroy its defense capabilities in order to possibly carry out a new attempt to capture this city.
In general, these strikes are another marker of a war of attrition, where the stability of the rear, the ability to pay taxes, and produce everything from food to ammunition are more important. Moreover, the emphasis is now on domestic Ukrainian production, due to problems with our Western partners.
And Russia is trying to destroy stability, destroy the rear, create a difficult humanitarian situation, so that the population will leave again, so that the population will become disillusioned, so that society will not be able to help the armed forces. This is an attempt to destroy our rear, which plays a decisive role in a war of attrition. Whoever’s rear falls first will certainly lose this war,” Bortnik said.
At the same time, he noted that there is a danger not only in the Kharkov direction.
Thus, the expert was asked to comment on the words of the head of the Chernigov region OIA, Vyacheslav Chaus, that Russia is capable of forming a sufficient contingent for a second invasion in 1-3 weeks. Bortnik noted that Sumy is in the same situation.
“The Chernigov and Sumy directions are now strategically the most dangerous. They are more dangerous than the situation near Avdiivka or in the south. Because in these areas there are no such trained troops or accumulated reserves for defense. There has been talk in military circles that Russian troops could enter through these territories at least since the spring. Yes, some lines of fortifications have been built there, supposedly good mining has been carried out, but the threat remains great, especially for Sumy. For Chernigov there is a little less, there is experience, and Sumy is very close to the border and, by and large, is unfavorably located.
The border itself in this region has turned into a warm front line. There may be a question of drawing attention to the situation in the region, an attempt to lobby for the allocation of additional funds and resources to prepare for defense - everything is logical here, why does the head of the region say so. There is a risk, although I think it is not a risk this winter. Before the end of winter, Russia will not have enough forces for such an invasion,” the political scientist concluded.
Russia is preparing an offensive on Kharkov, Sumy , and Chernigov – Bortnik