The current war in Ukraine is all about when – and who – the next major, potentially turnaround offensive will be launched. Austrian Brigadier General Philipp Eder, head of the Defense Ministry’s Military Strategy Department, expects both sides to make efforts to carry out large-scale attacks “at least in the spring”. It’s a “battle for time”. Ukraine therefore hopes for a rapid delivery of heavy weapons.
According to him, preparations for offensives had already started, Eder stated in an interview with the broadcaster ntv on Monday. Then: “What now supposedly looks like trench warfare actually involves reconnaissance activities,” the general said. The Russian and Ukrainian forces are currently scanning each other. “they will strike when the ground is passable and when supplies can be brought forward,” explains Eder.
The Russian side would try to strike as soon as possible – as soon as they had made up for their losses in equipment and personnel, so that they could take initiatives again. The Ukrainian side expects Russian forces to launch another major offensive in time for the anniversary of the invasion on February 24. The Austrian brigadier does not rule that out, he assumes an offensive “by March at the latest”.
Russian advance in the east
Then the troops loyal to Moscow could try to advance north to encircle the defenders in Donetsk and Luhansk. In their own words, the Russian armed forces have recently gained ground here. The troops have gained a foothold in the mining town of Wuhledar, the administration of the Russian-controlled parts of Donetsk province said on Monday. Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia had carried out intensive airstrikes and three rocket attacks in the past 24 hours. Attacks at Wuhledar were repelled.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted that Ukraine is in a difficult situation in Donetsk and needs faster arms deliveries and new types of weapons. “Russia wants the war to continue and exhaust our forces. So we have to make time our weapon. We need to speed things up, speed up supplies and open new weapons for Ukraine,” he said.
Main battle tanks should give advantage
General Eder stressed that Ukraine would also try to regain the initiative soon. This is where the main battle tanks supplied by Western Ukraine come into play. They are designed to give the defenders a powerful advantage on the battlefield. Brigadier Eder warns in the NTV interview that “Wars cannot be decided by one type of weapon.” Ukraine also needs artillery, light defense weapons and, above all, ammunition. “Ammunition consumption is enormous,” the general emphasizes. Kiev also hopes for fighter jets, but German Chancellor Olaf Scholz again rejected these demands.
Several types of tanks have already been pledged – Leopard 2 from Germany, Challenger 2 from Great Britain and Abrams from the USA. Here Eder pointed out that this was a logistical challenge, as different types of ammunition and spare parts were required. The Austrian military strategist expressed his surprise that politicians sometimes gave “exact timelines” for arms deliveries: “The Russian side can prepare for that.” But one can also be misled by stating later dates and being able to deliver earlier, Eder explained.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
