He also explained how the defenders need to strengthen their defenses in the mentioned directions in order to be ready for such offensive actions of the enemy.
First Deputy Chairman of the Defense Committee of the Council, Lieutenant General Mykhailo Zabrodsky believes that after the de-occupation of Kherson, the Russian troops who are currently there can be transferred to Zaporizhzhia and Sumy in order to create powerful groups already next year, with the help of which the occupiers can try to surround the Forces defenses on the left bank of the Dnieper. Zabrodskyi writes about this in a new material for the Ukrinform publication “Homeland war. Land military prospects”.
It is with the help of newly created groups that the Russians can try to carry out simultaneous strikes in the directions of Sumy-Poltava-Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia-Dnipro. Meanwhile, the occupying forces in Donbas will have to restrain the actions of the Armed Forces and make it impossible their use in other directions.
Zabrodsky explains that the purpose of such Russian actions may be the strategic encirclement of the Armed Forces group on the left bank of the Dnieper, as well as forcing Ukraine to negotiate from a position of strength. The general noted that this plan was considered by the occupiers back in the spring, so it is not unexpected for the Armed Forces.
He also warns that the occupiers may draw conclusions from their previous failures at the front and not even try to capture large cities. Their goal will be to capture the highwayE50 and M03, which provide the logistics of the Armed Forces in the eastern direction.
According to Zabrodskyi, Ukraine has already started strengthening its defense in these two mentioned areas. But, in his opinion, we still need to create two operational units to oppose the plans of the Russians, which will consist of 4-5 combined arms brigades, 2-3 tank and 1-2 artillery brigades each. For this, the Armed Forces need up to 600 tanks, up to 1,100 armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, as well as up to 500 units of barrel and rocket artillery. Such ambitions are real, according to the general, if we take into account planned deliveries of weapons and military equipment, as well as the capabilities of Ukrainian industry.
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