AFU’s ground offensive on Melitopol will begin after enemy stops in east - military expert Kyrychevskyi

He said this on the air of the Espreso TV channel.

"Melitopol is an important logistics hub that connects the enemy between the occupied Crimea and Donbas. The Russians have too many transport communications there. If the railway and road connections collapse, the Russian occupiers may start specific cascade processes. Now the only logistical artery that can provide the enemy - is from Donbas to Melitopol by rail from Donetsk, or from Mariupol to Volnovakha," Kyrychevskyi noted.

According to the military expert, the Crimean bridge is actually out of order, even empty trucks are not allowed there.

"If transport communications in Melitopol region are cut, the Russian forces will have problems supplying weapons, fuel and provisions to the Zaporizhzhia area. For the Russian forces, it is more important to hold Crimea than eastern Ukraine. And it is an open question how they are going to hold Crimea in such conditions. Now the Armed Forces of Ukraine are stopping the invaders near Bakhmut and in the Luhansk region. I assume that the ground offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Melitopol will begin after the enemy stops in the east," Kyrychevskyi explained.