292 days have passed since the start of the war in Ukraine. Once again, there are only small movements at the front line. – There are no longer large battalions, they have become companies. Then there aren’t that many soldiers on the front line. Then there won’t be the same big battles, explains Tormod Heier to news. Tormod Heier Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB He is a professor of military strategy and operations at the staff school of the Norwegian Armed Forces. Heier says that it is true that there is a lot of hard fighting both in the south and in the east, but that this is precisely what the Ukrainians are now trying to avoid. – The challenge for the Ukrainians lies in avoiding the heavy and decisive blows, says Heier. – Then the Ukrainians could risk breaking their backs. INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR AND AEI’S CRITICAL THREATS PROJECT / news (Updated 13 December 2022)INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR AND AEI’S CRITICAL THREATS PROJECT / news (Updated 13 December 2022) At the same time, the war-torn country continues its tireless efforts to get support from the West. – They are very keen to have close ties to the Americans in order to gain access to a lot of good intelligence, i.e. information about where the Russian forces are located, explains Heier. – And then they are still trying to get access to Western arms aid, so that they can use advanced rocket artillery. They can use that to shoot the soldiers who are buried without being able to shoot back. Then Ukraine can tie up Russian forces, while vehicles surround them and fight them down, the professor adds. The US will provide the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine, pictured here at a military base in Slovakia in May. Photo: RADOVAN STOKLASA / Reuters The US will provide important missile defense to Ukraine It seems that the Ukrainian wish has been heard. On Tuesday night, the United States announced that it is finalizing its plans to provide Ukraine with the Patriot missile defense system. This system, produced by American Raytheon Technology Corp, can be used to intercept missiles while they are in the air. – This is going to be absolutely decisive in meeting the challenges Ukraine is facing. Especially if the Russians get short-range missiles from Iran, says former military officer Alexander Vindman to Reuters. Reports of successful attack against critical bridge in the south An example of the importance of rocket artillery may have come with a Ukrainian attack against a bridge in the southern city of Melitopol today. The city is located on the Molochna River, which divides Zaporizjzja County into east and west. Videos posted by pro-Ukraine media show extensive damage to the bridge, which is important for transporting military equipment and forces through the southern part of Ukraine. The attack comes just two days after Ukraine succeeded in an attack against a Russian military camp in Melitopol. With the help of Himars rockets, they are said to have caused major material damage and killed several soldiers. Experts have previously pointed to the important strategic role of bridges and rivers in the war. On Tuesday evening, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced that Norway is giving ten bridges to Ukraine. Russia claims control over 50 percent of Donetsk In the east, the fighting is fiercest around the historic city of Bakhmut, in Donetsk county. Donetsk is one of the four counties Putin declared part of Russia in September. The annexation, which is illegal under international law, has been condemned by Ukraine and Western countries. According to the Russian-appointed leader in the region, Denis Pushilin, progress is slow. At the same time, he stated that Russian forces now control over 50 percent of the county, according to the Ria news agency.
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The rain of rockets continues to fall, but the Ukrainian battlefield is frozen solid – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
