The 904th day of Russian aggression against Ukraine is underway. On the website wPolityce.pl we report events for you.
READ MORE: REPORT of the war day by day.
Thursday, August 15, 2024
00:01. Expert: Ukraine will try to keep the territories it occupied in Russia
Ukraine will try to keep the territories it occupied in Russia as a factor of destabilization of this country and a factor of possible changes in the situation on the front, Ukrainian political scientist Yevhen Mahda said in an interview with PAP.
I believe that Ukrainian forces will not abandon these areas quickly and simply because holding them is beneficial to us. Control of these areas is a significant destabilizing factor within Russia.
– he said.
The expert who heads the Kiev Institute of World Politics concluded that Ukraine’s attack on Russia’s Kursk Oblast, which began last week, contributed to the collapse of the myth of a great and invincible Russia.
And I believe that this was understood not only in the West, which always reacts slowly to events, but also finally noticed in China.
– he explained.
According to the political scientist, Russia was completely unprepared for such a development in the war against Ukraine that began in February 2022. The Kremlin calls it a “special military operation”.
(Russian dictator Vladimir) Putin and Russia as a whole simply did not count on such a development of events. When we look at Putin now, we see that he simply was not prepared for all this. And what is happening now is completely incomprehensible to him.
– he assessed.
Mahda said that when Ukrainian troops entered Russia, Moscow should declare war on Ukraine.
This would seem logical. But if they declare war on Ukraine now, the question will arise: what is this that has been going on for 900 days? What then is a special military operation?
– he said.
The actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Russia also exposed the weakness of the Kadyrovtsy, Chechen fighters supporting the regime in the Kremlin, who – according to the PAP interlocutor – instead of defending the Kursk Oblast, became famous for their “antics” there. Some of them escaped beyond the battle lines and some even ended up in Ukrainian captivity.
Russia has shown the whole mosaic of its own helplessness
– he emphasized.
Ukraine, on the other hand, has demonstrated the ability to carry out independent military and political actions, he noted.
And, of course, for the first time in modern history there was a military invasion of the territory of a nuclear power, the largest in the world in terms of area, which is now forced to fight on its own territory. No one expected such a development of events.
– he said.
The expert noted that due to the entry of Ukrainian forces into Kursk Oblast, the gubernatorial elections scheduled for September 8 will probably not be held there. Before that, however, the Russians will wonder whether the Ukrainians will be able to take control of the Kursk nuclear power plant.
The seizure of the Kursk nuclear power plant would probably not lead to its connection to the Ukrainian energy system, but it would seriously damage Putin’s image.
– he decided.
According to Mahda, the action in Kursk Oblast could draw Russian forces away from the sections of the front where the most intense fighting is taking place.
However, this process will not be very quick; after all, Russia is trying to gain as much territory as possible in Donbass and is unlikely to completely stop attacks there. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian negotiating base has expanded significantly.
– said the political scientist.
ed/PAP/X/Facebook
