There is growing discontent among the military command of the Russian Federation over the fact that the president is personally involved in the strategic planning of the war and forbids the troops to retreat, putting them under attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has forbidden the Russian military to withdraw from Kherson, despite requests from his commanders on the ground. Now he is personally involved in the strategic planning of the war against Ukraine. This was reported by The New York Times, citing US officials.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has become more active in strategic planning for the war in Ukraine in recent weeks, including rejecting a request from his ground commanders to allow them to withdraw from the key southern city of Kherson.
The article stated that the withdrawal from Kherson would allow the Russian military to retreat across the Dnieper River in an organized manner, preserving their equipment and saving the lives of soldiers.
But such a retreat would be another humiliating public defeat for Putin in the war, and would bring Ukraine its second major victory in a month.
The Americans emphasized that the de-occupation of Kherson – which the Russians first captured at the start of the war and remains today Ukraine’s only occupied regional center – would be a great victory for President Volodymyr Zelensky.
However, Putin is committed to winning at all costs and has begun to take a larger role in the war, in particular telling commanders that he himself makes strategic decisions on the ground.
In addition to blocking the withdrawal from Kherson, Putin has questioned Russia’s intentions to gain a foothold in the northeast near the Oskol River, reached by a Ukrainian counteroffensive this month. Putin also opposed a withdrawal there, because he did not want to give Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky any semblance of victory, a US official said
It was noted that Putin’s refusal to withdraw troops from Kherson also led to a drop in morale of the Russian military, which was further cut off from their supply lines, and believed that they could be left alone in the UAF .
The head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, said that “the situation in Ukraine is clearly dynamic,” and although it is too early for a full assessment, it is clear to him personally that the strategic initiative was passed to the Ukrainians.
US officials say the differing views of Putin’s leadership and the military on the front line in Kherson illustrate how critical the war in southern Ukraine is to both sides.
The Americans are convinced that despite Ukraine’s recent successes in the northeast, the area around Kherson is a critical theater of operations with deep strategic implications for Kyiv and Moscow.
According to US officials, the difference in vision for launching the war in the Kherson region is the latest conflict between Putin and his high command.
The United States notes that senior Russian officials have repeatedly questioned the original plans for the war, especially the first phase, which included the rapid capture of Kyiv. They believed that Putin would go to war with insufficient troops and weapons, and their fears turned out to be correct.
After the defeat near Kyiv, Putin reportedly loosened his control over military planning and allowed senior generals to create a new strategy. It was effectively a war of attrition and allowed Russia to push its army forward into eastern Ukraine.
According to US officials, while Putin has accepted some of the military’s recommendations, including mobilization, his involvement in decision-making has created tensions.
Putin has called for a strategy of no further retreat, but amid Ukraine’s successful counteroffensive, Russian military leaders are divided over how to respond to the Russian president’s orders — some believe that they should obey, while others should resist.
Recall that today the Armed Forces of Ukraine hit the equipment of the Russian Federation near the Antonovsky bridge in Kherson, and the area where the enemy’s weapons and equipment are concentrated was also attacked.
Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down four Russian planes in one day
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.