The war in Ukraine is in its ninth month, and winter is about to settle over the great plains in eastern Europe. The Ukrainian forces have taken back large areas of land previously occupied by Russia. At the same time, Russia continues to attack critical civilian infrastructure such as electricity and water supplies with rockets and drones. US intelligence director Avril Haines favors a hearing in the Senate in May this year. Photo: Jose Luis Magana / AP On the ground, it appears that the fighting has slowed down, and this will probably continue through the winter, says US intelligence director, Avril Haines. Speaking at a defense forum in California on Saturday, she said most of the fighting in Ukraine is now taking place around the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. – There is still nothing to indicate that the resilience of the Ukrainian forces has weakened, Haines said, according to the BBC. Haines believes that both sides will probably try to prepare for a counteroffensive in the spring. LACK OF POWER: Russian attacks have destroyed much of the Ukrainian power grid. The Ukrainians do their best to keep warm. These men in Kyiv unpack a generator. Photo: Bernat Armangue / AP Ukraine can use the winter to its advantage The Ukrainian civilian population is hit hard by the attacks on civilian infrastructure. Millions of Ukrainians have completely or partially lost power, and many have been forced to flee. For the Ukrainian soldiers, on the other hand, the cold can be helpful, says Tormod Heier, professor at the Norwegian Armed Forces College. Tormod Heier, professor at the Norwegian Defense Academy. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB – With tele in the ground, a larger room for maneuver opens up for the Ukrainian combat vehicles. Thus, divisions with tanks, artillery and soldiers can move more freely. The Russians will thus be easier to surround and fight off in smaller isolated groups, says Heier to news. He also points out that lower temperatures will cause much of the vegetation to disappear. – This makes it more difficult for the Russians to camouflage themselves and hide behind trees and bushes. Satellites and drones will thus easily find out where the Russians are grouped, which the Ukrainians can use to find out where in the Russian defense lines the biggest weaknesses are hidden, says the professor. Heier also believes that already poorly motivated Russian soldiers will become even less motivated when winter sets in. – For Russian soldiers who are basically fighting a war of aggression on the territory of their brotherly people, a harsher climate will therefore add another stone to the burden when it comes to keeping up their will to fight through the winter, says Heier. Tormod Heier was a guest in this week’s Urix. You can see the program here. Millions of Ukrainians live in bombed-out houses without light and heat, and now winter is coming. Can the cold weaken Zelenskyj and strengthen Putin? News that Ukraine has crossed the Dnieper On Sunday, there were reports that Ukrainian forces have managed to cross the river Dnieper, at the recently liberated city of Kherson. The American think tank Institute for the study of war (ISW) writes in its daily report that a Ukrainian should have been raised on the east side of the river at Kherson. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers are said to have posted photos on social media of them crossing the river in boats. Pictures on social media purport to show a Ukrainian flag on the east side of the Dnieper River in Kherson city. ISW refers to soldiers from the special unit Carlson who himself posted a film on Telegram showing a Ukrainian flag on a crane. The crane will be located on the eastern bank of the Dnieper in the city of Kherson. Russian forces are said to have entrenched themselves in several places on the east side of the river after the withdrawal from Kherson. So far, there has been no information confirming a Ukrainian offensive on the eastern bank of the river. Price ceiling on Russian oil At the same time, Western countries are trying to put pressure on Russia. On Friday, the EU countries agreed on a price ceiling for Russian oil of 60 dollars per barrel. barrel. The G7 countries and Australia have also joined the price ceiling. The purpose of the price cap is to hit Russia’s oil revenues, to limit the country’s ability to finance the war of aggression in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi during a visit to Kherson. Photo: HANDOUT / AFP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that the price ceiling of 60 dollars is too high. – The level is not serious because this level is quite comfortable for Russia, Zelenskyj said on Saturday. Several analysts have also pointed out that the price ceiling of 60 dollars is unlikely to hit particularly hard with today’s oil price. Russia, for its part, has said that it will not accept the price ceiling on oil.
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Expect a slower pace in the Ukraine war going forward – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
