Putin’s New “Offensive” in Ukraine Looks Like Another Disaster

The war in Ukraine continues for day 364 as Russia withdraws From a major nuclear weapons treaty and commits the ahref=”https://www.19fortyfive.com/2023/02/putins-new-plan-to-win-the-ukraine-war-weapons-from-china/”>continuation The conflict. 

As the situation remains on the ground, it is still contested Russian forces We are working hard to capture the city of Bakhmut In the Donbas.

Despite small gains, they have been failing so far. 

Putin’s Speech 

Tuesday Russian President Vladimir Putin Addressed the Russian Federal Assembly.

Putin declared that Russia would withdraw from the New START Treaty during his speech.

Signed in 2010, by U.S. president Barack Obama Dmitry Medvedev (Russian President), the New START Treaty The two countries were limited in the number of strategic nuclear warheads they could deploy. It was due to expire on 2026.

Additionally, Russian leader Continued to defend his “special military operation” In UkraineThis indicates that everything is going according the plan.

Putin declared that he plans to keep the war going, closing off the possibility of negotiations at the least for now. 

“Putin continues presenting a contradictory narrative regarding existential struggle while insisting that everything in Russia is fine.

This renders both the messages ineffective,” British Military Intelligence Evaluate In its most recent estimate of war. 

Apart from the suspension announcement of the New START Treaty Putin He didn’t really have anything to add. 

Putin attacked the West as usual for its support of Ukraine and ideals. Despite his aggressive speech, Putin did not offer any practical solutions for the many problems. Russian forces Are facing on the ground 

Indeed, it’s very possible that Kremlin The same flawed strategy will be used to continue attrition.

Russian forces continue their suffering Very heavy casualties For virtually no territorial gains.

Throughout all this, the ahref=”https://www.19fortyfive.com/tag/ukraine/”>Ukrainians They are awaiting the right time to build up their forces in preparation for launching a major counteroffensive later this year. 

“Russian President Vladimir Putin’s February 21 address to the Russian Federal Assembly did not articulate specific goals or intentions for the war in Ukraine, instead reinforcing several long-standing rhetorical lines in an effort to buy Putin more space and time for a protracted war,” Institute for the Study of War Assessed In its most recent operational update on war.

Russian casualties in Ukraine 

The Russian forces Ukraine continues to lose men, but has very little to show for its efforts. 

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense is overall a success. Claim As of Wednesday, Ukrainian forces had killed or wounded approximately 145,060 Russian soldiers (and approximately twice as many as the number that were injured).

Equipment that was destroyed included: 299 fighters, attack, bomber and transport jets; 287 attack helicopters and transport helicopters; 3,334 Tanks2,345 artillery pieces; 6,569 armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and 471 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), 18 boats and cutters, 5,212 vehicles and fuel tanks, 243 anti-aircraft batteries, 2,026 tactical unmanned aerial systems, 226 special equipment platforms, such as bridging vehicles, and four mobile Iskander ballistic missile systems, and 873 cruise missiles shot down by the Ukrainian air defenses. 

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Expert Biography A 19FortyFive Defense and National Security columnist Stavros Atlamazoglou An experienced defense journalist, specializing in Special operationsHe is a Hellenic Army veteran (national military service with the 575th marine Battalion and Army Headquarters) and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. His work has been featured. Business Insider, Sandboxx?, and SOFREP.