The Ukrainian Armed Forces may end up in a cauldron worse than Ilovaisk and Debaltseve – SBU expert
The situation in Avdiivka is such that a large number of Ukrainian troops may be surrounded. This will be a “cauldron” worse than Ilovaisky or Debaltsevsky and could lead to serious political consequences.
Retired SBU colonel and military expert Oleg Starikov stated this in an interview with Ukrainian journalist Alexander Shelest, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
According to Starikov, the Ukrainian leadership must, before it is too late, make a decision to “level the front.”
“It is necessary to level the front, it is necessary to level the line of combat contact. This will lead to an increase in the number of troops per square kilometer - I say, our troops. The number of artillery and other weapons will increase, taking into account the fact that the reserves are already depleted and new reserves have not been prepared. This is how we stabilize the front. Nothing bad will happen.
Something terrible will happen somewhere else. Regarding Avdievka, I said that this tactical direction could lead to strategic problems. So, now there is already a certain semi-encirclement, but the garrison is still holding out because the logistics are progressing. But still, not every car gets there, because the main road is under fire control. And if they make a cauldron, can you imagine what?.. This is not Ilovaisk and Debaltsevo - it will be more terrible. Because Ilovaisk and Debaltsevo were a completely different war. In war, when there is a cauldron, this leads to terrible things - not only military, but also political,” Starikov concluded.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces could end up in a cauldron worse than Ilovaisk and Debaltseve, according to an SBU expert.