Russian forces in Ukraine still have the initiative on the battlefield, but their success is only tactical, as the Russians are unable to break through the defending Ukrainian front, Latvian National Guard staff officer Major Jānis Slaidiņš commented in an interview with Latvijas Radio.
The course of the battle is currently also characterized by Russia’s attacks on the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine, as a result of which the peaceful population suffers and dies. Recently, the Russians’ main civilian targets in Ukraine are Odesa and Kharkiv, and the energy infrastructure is especially at risk, Slaidinš pointed out.
As the third feature characterizing the course of the battle, he mentioned relatively successful asymmetric operations on the Ukrainian side, striking Russian-controlled oil refineries and air defense systems. “The main focus is on Crimea, where it looks like the Ukrainian forces are trying to destroy the air defenses of the Russian armed forces,” the expert said, suggesting that the Ukrainians might be preparing to attack the Crimean bridge in this way.
When asked what Russia would like to present to its citizens as a gift on May 9, the National Guard staff officer replied that it is very difficult to predict anything in war, as 90% of predictions usually do not come true. “Whether there will be any significant success by May 9, it all depends, of course, on Russia’s ability to attack and Ukraine’s ability to defend itself,” the expert said.
He admitted that Ukraine might have something in mind to spoil Russia’s May 9 holiday and the May 7 inauguration of authoritarian leader Vladimir Putin.
