Will Russian troops be able to cross Oskil River: explanation by Ukrainian reserve major Hetman

He spoke about this on Espreso TV.

‘We can assume that they will be able to reach it. Let's remember, we talked about this six months ago, a year ago, where the largest grouping of Russian troops was concentrated. The smallest number was in the Bakhmut direction, in the middle, and the largest number was in the Vuhledar direction, up to 150,000, and in the Kupyansk-Lyman direction, up to 150,000. That's why they have added more troops there today, and they tried to reach the Oskil River. But it is in these areas that my brothers are fighting, they assume that the Russians will be able to reach the Oskil River, but they do not assume that the Russians will be able to force it,’ he said. 

Oleksiy Hetman noted that in addition to the natural fortress in the form of a ridge, there is a reliable defense there.

‘Because the right bank of the river, the western bank, is a mountain ridge, not just dominant heights, but a natural fortress. There are communications there, trenches with wired communications so that they cannot be jammed by electronic warfare, and our artillery. And not only is there artillery, but they have already trained their guns on the Oskil River. And in the event of a possible crossing of this river, it is already written down which artillery will fire where, not just that there is something there, but that it is prepared for possible crossings of the Oskil River. This is a subjective opinion, but people with combat experience say that, judging by everything, no matter what they (Russians - ed.) add to it, they have virtually no chance of forcing the Oskil River,’ said the reserve major of the National Guard.

• On August 29, Kharkiv regional council deputy Oleksandr Skoryk said that ‘there is information that the Russians’ goal is to reach Oskil’.