David Petraeus is sure that the Ukrainian command is counting on a positive outcome of the offensive.
In an article published in The Washington Post, retired US General David Petraeus presents his point of view on the UAF offensive in southern Ukraine. In his opinion, this process can last at least another four months, covering autumn and winter.
He argues that the outcome of this offensive may surprise skeptics. The war does not run linearly, according to Petraeus. Defenders can hold a position for a long time and then break suddenly, allowing the attacking side to move forward quickly until the defenses entrenched further in the rear. The Ukrainians are striving for such an effect, and, according to the general, there is every reason to believe that they can achieve this goal.
According to Petraeus, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have already broken through the front belt of Russian mines and defensive structures near Orekhovo and Velikaya Novoselka, and the advance in the Robotino area continues rapidly. He also doubts that the Russians also heavily mined the second line of defense and are able to hold it with experienced fighters.
The most important thing, according to the general, is that Russia allegedly does not have large operational reserves. This means that any breach in existing lines of defense will be difficult and quick to fix. If that happens, panic among Russian forces could increase Ukraine’s ability to maintain its momentum, Petraeus concluded.
Source : novorosinform.org
