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https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-a-desperate-russia-defaults-to-attacking-civilians-192222>
"If you wanted an indication of how badly Russia’s war is going and how much
pressure Vladimir Putin is under, then the missile attacks on Kyiv and
Ukraine’s major cities over the last day or two are as good as any. These
attacks have no military value; they won’t stall Ukraine’s successful
counteroffensives in the south and east. They merely aim to terrify the
Ukrainian people. History tells us this approach rarely works.
The successful attack on Kerch bridge has clearly cut Putin to the quick. The
bridge was one of Putin’s signature projects and a major strategic asset for
the Russian military, providing its main road and rail connection between the
Russian mainland and the Crimean peninsula.
As well as a brilliantly successful demonstration of Ukrainian special
operations – blamed by Russia on the feared Ukrainian intelligence service the
SBU (who now appear to have admitted as much), this was also an indicator of
where this war is going. Russia’s decision to respond by attacking civilian
targets has been equally significant.
From the purely military angle alone, the operation against Kerch bridge was
the most effective disruption of enemy supplies deep behind the lines in
recent military history. The bridge carried thousands of tonnes a day to
Crimea and to the Kherson front from bases in and around Rostov and Russia’s
southern military district.
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The bridge has partially reopened with much-reduced capacity, with a one-way
motor lane (restricted to 3.5 tonnes for each vehicle) and a single rail track.
There is a considerable military and civilian ferry capability, but that will
offset only a fraction of the lost capacity of the Kerch bridge.
This shortfall in supplies will now have to transit the M14 road on the south
coast of occupied Ukraine and railways already seriously damaged by Ukrainian
attacks. These remain vulnerable to Ukrainian attack should the Ukrainians
strike south towards Melitopol and the Azov Sea coast, which has been possible
in the last few months."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
