Russia launches campaign, Ukraine is in a double bind

The war in eastern Ukraine is heating up as Russia launches multiple attacks at the same time, signaling the start of the summer campaign and pushing Ukraine into a critical situation.

The US media channel CNN reported that two US officials with knowledge of intelligence revealed that the Russian army is massively concentrating its forces on the front line, intending to capture as much territory as possible. Photo: RIA Novosti

The spokesman for the Kharkov Army Group of the Ukrainian army, Pavlo Shtupun, also said that they discovered that the Russian army was assembling its forces. In fact, the Russian summer offensive had already begun, and many areas along the contact line were being attacked simultaneously. For example, the Russian army had just surrounded Pokorovsk and Kostyantynivka, and had captured Torske in the Lyman direction - this was a very clear signal of attack. Photo: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

War correspondent Dmitry Steshin said that after the Russian army captured Torske, the Ukrainian government immediately asked the people of Lyman town to evacuate urgently, showing that the Ukrainian side thought the battle of Lyman was about to begin. Photo: TCH

Lyman is the most important transport hub north of Donetsk, and has long been the Ukrainian army's logistical base for the Kremensky and Serebryanka forests – the two places that are the main lines of defense in northern Donetsk. Photo: Google Maps

If the Russians encircle Lyman, the Ukrainian defenses in the northern Donetsk region will be in jeopardy. If Lyman falls to the Russians, the northern defenses may collapse, and then the battle for Sloviansk will likely follow. In fact, in a broader sense, both the battles of Lyman and Torske can be considered part of the Sloviansk operation. Photo: Google Maps

Although the Ukrainian army has turned Lyman into a “fortress area”, there are still many problems, the biggest of which is the small reserve force. However, according to the Ukrainian army’s combat habits, they will certainly mobilize troops from other places to defend Lyman to the death. Photo: Top War

After the Russians capture Torske, the next step could be to cross the Zherebets River to attack Zarichne on the right bank. If they capture this area, they could establish a bridgehead near Lyman. At the same time, the Russians are pressing down from the Kolodyazi line to Zelenaya Dolina in the north, and are expected to be close to the city of Lyman in about a month. Photo: Google Maps

In addition, the Russian forces in Torske are also capable of following the Zherebets River southward, directly attacking the Kremensky Forest from behind, in order to cut off the Ukrainian army's supply line. The Kremensky Forest is a key line of defense in northern Donetsk, and if it collapses, the entire region will be affected, and Lyman is no exception. Photo: TASS

In addition, the Ukrainian side has also evacuated the town of Druzhkivka, located behind Konstantynivka, which shows that the battle of Konstantynivka has also begun, and the defense line in the south of this area is collapsing very quickly. Photo: Google Maps

Many Western military experts believe that the rapid advance of the Russian army is partly due to the air force carrying out large-scale bombing raids, using advanced bomber squadrons to launch precision attacks before the start of the campaign, which can destroy Ukraine's defense line right from the root. Photo: TASS

Another development is also very noteworthy. RIA Novosti news agency reported that on May 15, President Putin dismissed General Oleg Salyukov from the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army, transferred him to the position of Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, and appointed Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev - former Commander of the Central Military District - as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Army. Photo: Izvestia

The replacement of Mr. Salyukov – a general of the old school – with Mr. Mordvichev, who stood out for his efficient working style and ability to assess the situation soberly, shows that the Russian Army is preparing to reorganize, especially the command, in a more efficient and pragmatic direction. Photo: Sputnik

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/nga-phat-dong-chien-dich-ukraine-vao-the-mot-co-hai-trong-post1542054.html