According to Colonel Petteri Kajanmaa, Director of the Department of Military Skills at the National Defense College, Russia has used destruction tactics in Mariupol, ie they are moving forward by destroying everything that comes before them.
During the Easter holidays, the world’s attention in Russia’s attack on Ukraine has focused on the Black Sea port city of Mariupol.
According to public data, the remaining soldiers of the two Ukrainian troops and the siege ring possibly maintained by Russia from two directions are at odds.
We asked the head of the Department of Military Skills at the National Defense College, Colonel Petteri from Kajanmaa On the situation in Mariupol.
What is the significance of Mariupol’s rule for the whole picture of the war in Ukraine, Colonel Petteri Kajanmaa, Director of the Department of Military Skills at the National Defense College?
– For Ukraine, it is a matter of principle. A matter of honor that Mariupol likes. For Russia, it is much more important. It ensures a land connection between Crimea and Donbass in eastern Ukraine. Sure, that land connection already exists, but then there would be no more enemy colonies between the land connection.
What is the probable task of the Ukrainian forces now in the Mariupol region?
– They must have been told to keep Mariupol, which means they will fight there as long as the mission changes.
In general, what kind of place is the industrial plant possibly even for the defended defenders and the invaders trying to take it over?
– Mariupol is a city that still has a port. It is an extremely difficult battle terrain for the attacker, because in addition to being a defender, the built area with its tunnels and roofs brings a three-dimensional battle, that is, very difficult for the attacker.
According to Carl von Clausewitz (1780–1831), a classic hard-to-quote by professional soldiers, defense is a stronger form of warfare than attack. How does this now fit into the situation in Mariupol for Ukraine?
– It is generally said that an attacker should have triple superiority due to the conditions for a successful attack. But in an urban battle, it’s even six or ten times the superiority that has to be. In the case of Mariupol, theories of warfare are not really applied, but block by block is fought there. Russia has used destruction tactics, meaning they are moving forward by destroying everything that comes up and at some point the defender will run out of resources.
In a war situation today, can one generally trust that in a situation of surrender, the enemy will save the life of a surrendered soldier?
– This is how we should be able to trust and this is how we teach our soldiers to do so with surrendering soldiers who are taken prisoner of war. But Russia has unfortunately shown in this war that there is not always trust in it. I am terribly afraid that the defenders of Mariupol will see their own future as such if they surrendered.
What are the benefits for Ukraine of knowing the region, the support of the civilian population, the commitment of the troops, and at least the support of the West in public?
– These are the ingredients from which Mariupol’s defense is built. But at the moment, the situation in Mariupol is miserable, because civilians are suffering there, and I do not think the soldiers are in very good conditions to fight.
Is Ukraine in a situation similar to that of Mariupol in the same way as Finland was on Petäjäsaari in Ladoga in the Winter War of 1940, where the order was to fight until the “last man”?
– That, of course, could be described. As I said, Mariupol is a matter of honor for Ukraine. They can’t save their soldiers, and I don’t think the soldiers dare to surrender, so they fight.
Are “last-man” -style combat orders given at all today. In other words, have Ukrainian troops been able to obtain an order not to withdraw or surrender?
– Of course, I do not know their command and task taxonomy. There is no such task in Finland. But in practice, “rejects and holds” is such a task that it cannot be abandoned until it is authorized by senior management.
What is the mood of the troops in Mariupol?
– There is no information on this. Some videos have been seen, but their authenticity cannot be guaranteed. Ukraine has been very quiet about the status of Mariupol’s soldiers and the will to fight. The best indication, of course, is that they are still resisting.
What are the strengths of Ukrainian and Russian forces in the region?
– It is estimated that there are remnants of two separate Ukrainian battalions. That is, we are talking about some hundreds of soldiers. I cannot say exactly about Russia’s strengths, but Russia will be able to strengthen its own operation from Crimea and Donbass if it so wishes.