Snegirev: “200 thousand Russians in the south is a signal to the West that the front line can cross the Dnipro”
31 October 2024 15:32
EXCLUSIVE
In the southern direction, including the occupation forces in Crimea, Russians have assembled a military group of 200,000 people, said Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces. Although, according to him, the enemy has not created any offensive groups there, in some areas it is creating assault groups for assaults with small infantry forces.
Does this indicate preparations for a large-scale offensive in the Zaporizhzhia direction? "Komersant Ukrainian" talked to military expert Dmytro Snegiryov on this topic.
According to the expert, the intensity of fire in this area has increased significantly, and he believes that this may be an attempt to distract the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“The intensity of fire has increased dramatically, not only on the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but also on residential areas of cities under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. And it is quite significant. And we are talking not only about cannon rocket artillery, but also about the Russian Federation’s VKS, about strikes by KABs, primarily on civilian infrastructure,”
– Snegirev said.
The growth of activity is observed in two main areas – Orikhivske and Tovkmachka, which increases the risks for Zaporizhzhia. The expert explains that this is in line with the strategy of improving the tactical situation of Russian forces.
“The situation escalated after the capture of Vuhledar. Now the occupants are trying to strengthen themselves on the so-called Vremivsky ledge, that is, on the border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, seeking not only to reach these borders, but also to consolidate their presence in Zaporizhzhia region,”
– he said.
Follow us on Telegram: the main news in brief
At the same time, the expert draws attention to the possible intentions of Russian troops to distract Ukrainian forces from other areas.
“In Zaporizhzhia, we have spotted the redeployment of Russian troops and armored vehicles, but I think this is just a way to divert attention from the main offensive in Donetsk region, in particular in the Kurakhove and Pokrovske directions. This is part of the so-called “thousand cuts” tactics, when simultaneous attacks are launched in several directions to stretch Ukrainian forces and prevent the rapid deployment of reserves,”
– snegirev comments.
He also emphasizes that the Russians’ attempts to intensify hostilities in Zaporizhzhia region have a military and political background:
“This is not only pressure on Ukraine, but also a signal to Western countries. Russia is trying to show that the frontline can be moved further, to the territories beyond the Dnipro, with the expansion of both the theater of operations and the number of troops.”
Therefore, 200,000 Russian troops in the south is also a kind of political and information campaign.
“They will promote the narrative of expanding the theater of operations, relying on the decree on the inclusion of Zaporizhzhia region in the Russian Federation. That is, after possible tactical successes in the Donetsk region, I do not rule out further intensification of hostilities in the Zaporizhzhya sector,”
– adds the expert.
In conclusion, he summarizes the situation in the Zaporizhzhya sector as having both military and political and informational character.
“In Zaporizhzhia, the Russians are trying to expand the front line and block the deployment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reserves, as well as put pressure on Ukraine and the West, demonstrating that the fighting may become more widespread,”
– summarizes Snegiryov.
Follow us on Telegram: the main news in brief
