Updated 18.53 | Published 18.47
unsaveSave
expand-left
full screenJoakim Paasikivi, retired lieutenant colonel. Archive image. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT
Russian information claims that Ukraine has advanced 10-15 kilometers into the Russian Kursk region in one day – information that has not been confirmed by Ukraine.
– It is a remarkable much higher rate and shows how hollow the Russian defense has been in this part of Russia, says former lieutenant colonel Joakim Paasikivi.
The information about the ground offensive is very likely true, Paasikivi believes. In the area there are a number of military, operational and strategic objectives. For example, it is speculated whether a target could be the power plant in Kursk.
According to information on social media, Ukraine has already seized a gas pumping station – one of the gas pipelines that supply Europe with gas.
Can cut maintenance lines
– Already quite soon, Ukraine will be able to cut off the Russian maintenance lines to the northern front, says Paasikivi.
He says there is also information that Russia would have begun a build-up of forces in the area to attack Ukrainian Sumy. Possibly, the Ukrainian operation is being carried out as a preventive measure.
According to Paasikivi, the fact that Ukraine succeeds in carrying out an operation of this kind indicates that Ukraine had enough units that have not been familiar with the defense in Donbass, where the Russians occupy terrain.
“Hollow Russian Defense”
In one day, Ukraine has now moved 10-15 kilometers into Russia – and seems to be continuing.
– That is a remarkably much higher rate and shows how hollow the Russian defense has been in this part of Russia.
Western countries have previously hesitated to give Ukraine permission to use Western weapons with a long range against targets in Russian territory – and there are still no signs that such would have been used, says Paasikivi, who also believes that Ukraine itself initiated the offensive – and that it is not someone else “driving from the back seat”.