Putin is on a stretch. Why is it so important for Russia to take Donbas?
Russian President Putin is ready to lose about 100,000 mobilized soldiers killed and wounded during the winter in the war in Ukraine: such figures were published by the Russian publication “Vazhnye istorii” with reference to sources. And most of these “planned” 200s and 300s Russia seems to expect to receive on the eastern front. Why is Vladimir Putin so attached to Donbas, what does this mean for Ukraine?
Battle for Donbas: a “hot” winter ahead?
Autumn roadlessness usually reduces the intensity of hostilities. This was also the case in the war in Ukraine, but Russian troops still systematically tried to advance and conduct heavy fire.
But, judging by everything, winter will break military “traditions” even more. Instead of a relative or even almost complete lull due to severe frosts for people and equipment, experts expect an aggravation. “Minus” binds rain-soaked fields and dirt roads, which will increase the mobility of troops.
“The pace of operations along the front line has slowed down in recent days due to worsening weather conditions, but is likely to increase starting from the next several weeks, as the temperature will drop and the ground will freeze throughout the hostilities,” said in a report by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) dated November 27.