Key Takeaways:
– Ukrainian forces unexpectedly plunged into Russian territory, shocking Putin’s administration.
– Despite the bold move, the seized area is a tiny portion of Russia’s expanse, and it comes carrying significant risk.
– Putin may launch a counter-offensive to regain Russian territory, according to Mark Milley.
– Ukraine used US supplied ATACMS missiles in a counteroffensive against Russia.
– Zelenskyy pleads for a long-range missile capability to motivate Russia to seek peace.
An Audacious Offensive by Ukraine
Ukraine’s audacious foray into Russia, which saw armored squads cutting through ill-prepared defenses and capturing towns and settlements, marks a high-risk gamble in the ongoing war triggered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. This move delivered a psychological blow to the Russian mindset, particularly Putin, marking the first penetration of Russian borders by Ukraine since World War II,” stated former Joint Chiefs Chairman, Mark Milley.
The Seized Territory: Tiny, but Important
However, Milley highlights that the 500-square-mile area captured by Ukraine is merely a speck on the colossal map of Russia. Despite Ukraine’s daring ploy, it reveals three vulnerable sides, indicating substantial risk. The Russians could gather their forces, dismember, and overrun the Ukrainians,” warned Milley.
A Potential Counter-offensive by Russia?
As Ukraine has seized part of Russian territory, many question whether Putin will orchestrate a major backlash to reclaim the lost terrains. Milley predicts this to be one of the potential scenarios that could unfold in the coming months.
The Struggle on the Battlefield
The ongoing war sees Putin clinging to a strategy of endurance, relying on the sheer scale of numbers to gradually wear down Ukraine. Conversely, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks to shorten the war by bringing the fight to the Russian soil. In a recent event, a weapons depot located deep within Russia exploded after being struck by Ukrainian drones.
Zelenskyy also strongly urges for the agreement to use American-made long-range missiles against Russia. “We need to have this long-range capability so that Russia is motivated to seek peace,” he expressed recently.
The Role of Advanced Technology
Currently, Ukraine has employed the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) against Russian targets in occupied Crimea, bringing about a devastating impact. Unfortunately, Zelenskyy’s desire to use them against glide-bomb attacks being launched from bases inside Russia might be too late. “We know that the Russians have actually moved their aircraft that are using the glide bombers beyond the range of ATACMS,” Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin alerted.
The Ominous Warning from Putin
Russian military targets remain within ATACMS’s range, but Putin issued a stern warning that striking them would incite a direct conflict between NATO, Russia, and the US. “He’s making a clear, unambiguous threat publicly against NATO,” said Milley. This situation could quickly escalate if Russian missiles hit an area of NATO allies, causing casualties and initiating an international crisis.
The High Stakes
The war has already claimed an estimated total of one million casualties and has reached a stalemate. Milley believes neither Russia can overrun Ukraine, nor can Ukraine compel the withdrawal of Russian troops. However, Zelenskyy is wagering that he can open a new front inside Russia while staving off Russian assaults on Ukraine.
The Risk Involving the US
The challenging part remains whether the politically divided United States will continue supplying Ukraine with an arsenal to fend off Russian onslaughts. Should the aid shrivel up, Milley warns, “it gets very problematic for Ukraine to sustain their fight.”