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Military expert explains why Russian forces succeed in encircling settlements

Sofiia Turko
22 January, 2025 Wednesday
20:18

Military expert and former SBU employee (2004-2015) Ivan Stupak explained why the Russian troops succeed in encircling settlements from the flanks

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He shared his opinion on Espreso TV. 

"There is a shortage of personnel. Our military says that there are not enough people, especially on the flanks. There are areas where we can hold back the Russians, but on the outskirts, and from the flanks, we lack manpower. With equipment, things are more or less fine, there are no major complaints. And this allows the Russian troops to push through our defense and do what they usually like to do—create pockets, encircle us. This has been their standard tactic over the past year, and unfortunately, it works," he explained. 

Ivan Stupak also reminded that the town of Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk region was liberated in 2022.

"We saw quite a large area marked in green on the DeepState map. Now, it has almost returned under Russian control. Well, we understand that there is nothing left in this location; it's just scorched earth, mixed with concrete, the bodies of our soldiers, the bodies of Russians, civilians, and unexploded ordnance," noted the military expert.

  • The issue of Kurakhove remains unresolved. Even the Russian forces have not claimed the Russian army has captured the town, although the situation in the area is complex.
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