Western officers have mentioned they “hope and expect” Ukrainian forces to attain success in a landmark offensive began this week in opposition to Russian-held territory within the south of Ukraine.
The officers described the operation into the Kherson area, to the west of the Dnipro river, as “sensibly limited” and an “important” attacking second for Ukraine after greater than six months of defending itself in opposition to Russia’s large-scale invasion.
Speaking on Friday, they mentioned it might probably take time, could be lethal and cautioned in opposition to any “gigantic breakthroughs”.
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The Western officers mentioned it was necessary to think about the mission – formally launched on Monday – via a prism of what it might “reasonably achieve”.
Ukraine’s army commanders are intentionally concentrating their forces in opposition to targets within the south, with the retaking of Kherson metropolis seen as a key prize, fairly than aiming to launch offensive missions alongside the entire 1,500-mile-long frontline from east to south.
The offensive “has to be judged within its own terms, which… is around Kherson, west of the Dnipro [river] – that is the field of operations at present”, one official mentioned.
“Let’s take it one step at a time and see how Ukrainian forces do over the next few days.”
A second official added: “It could be a extremely, actually vital factor if the Ukrainian forces – as we hope and anticipate that they may – obtain the form of success that [has just been outlined].
“It won’t end the war, but it would be really, really significant, partly because of the geostrategic importance of Kherson itself but also as a demonstration that Russia is a very, very, very long way away from having this war go its own way.”
Ukraine has restricted journalists from entry to the offensive so it has not been doable independently to evaluate how the battle is taking part in out.
But the “signs are good at the moment”, the Western officers mentioned.
“There are certainly signs that the Russians are dropping back but Ukraine themselves have already said that the offensive is a planned, slow operation to grind the enemy which will take time and effort, so I don’t think that we should be anticipating gigantic breakthroughs which completely change the picture and to be honest we are going to have to wait and see.”
The officers mentioned they consider that Russia has some 20,000 troops within the space after having moved to bolster its ranks in anticipation of a Ukrainian counter-attack.
Source: information.sky.com”