Information about the wounding of General Valery Gerasimov is contradictory. In any case, Ukraine has shown in the past that it is receiving information about the locations of Russian generals that is important for the attacks.
Hanne Kinnunen,
Maarit Piri-Lahti
Over the weekend, a message service on Twitter began circulating a lot of messages, according to the head of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. Valeri Gerasimov.66 would have been injured in Izjum in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine hit Izjum on Saturday night. According to the Ukrainian authorities interviewed by the newspaper, the Ukrainians knew about Gerasimov’s visit, but Gerasimov is said to have already left the command post before the attack. However, Ukrainians say Gerasimov was injured.
As many as 200 soldiers, including at least one general, died in an attack on a command post set up at a local school, according to The New York Times.
The city of Izjum has become an important Russian base for attacks in the Donbas region.
Adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Anton Gerashchenko tweeted yesterday that Ukraine had received confirmation of Saturday’s explosion in Izjum near a Russian headquarters. According to Gerashchenko, Gerasimov was present to lead the attack on Slovjansk, which is also located in eastern Ukraine.
– It’s pretty clumsy to go under the artillery. If Gerasimov is wounded, it will be extremely embarrassing for the Russians. Delicious paint, not about to work, says former intelligence chief, major general (evp) Pekka Toveri.
Two options, one of which would be distrust of Russian forces
According to a comrade, it is normal for chiefs or even seated presidents to visit the front to greet their troops, but a visit to the front line is special.
According to his comrade, Gerasimov may have been either on an inspection visit or taking over troops. A comrade recalls that about three weeks ago the President of Russia Vladimir Putin appointed to lead a new attack (move to another service)general Alexander Dvornikovafter Russia withdrew from Kiev and reorganized its troops to attack eastern Ukraine.
– If he [Gerasimov] was taking the lead, it would be a sign that Russian troops are doing really badly. That would be exceptional and widespread distrust of the troops, says Comrade over the phone.
Still, visiting the front line would be very special and risky. Ukraine has been able to carry out a number of successful attacks on command posts during the war, and several generals have already died in the attacks.
has not been able to confirm whether General Gerasimov is wounded or not.
It is also possible that information about Gerasimov’s wounding is part of the war propaganda, but according to Tover, it would not be in Ukraine’s interest.
– The Ukrainians also have excesses, but the general losses have been relatively accurate. It would be embarrassing for them too, if it turned out that the information was not true, says Comrade.
Ukraine has had a successful reconnaissance of the location of Russian troops during the war. Ukraine is also expected to receive US intelligence.