The development trend of the Lisichansk offensive and defensive war, which has attracted much attention from the outside world, completely exceeded the expectations of the outside world. The Ukrainian army once again implemented a "strategic retreat" in Lisichansk . The Russian army's capture of Lisichansk meant that it had captured the last city in the Luhansk region, and Russia also officially announced that it had achieved control of the entire Luhansk region. This means that the Russian army's "Second Phase Special Military Operation" goals have been achieved more than half, which has important indicator significance. The outside world is very concerned about . What is the reason that allowed the Russian army to capture Lisichansk so quickly? Is there a major change in the tactics of the Russian army in urban offensives, or is there a serious problem with the morale of the Ukrainian army?
Is the battle against Russian cities accelerating?
According to a report by Russia's TASS news agency on July 4, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Russian President Putin on Monday that the Russian military's operation in Luhansk was successful. Within two weeks, the Ukrainian military groups in the Lischichansk and Severodonetsk regions were surrounded and eliminated. According to Shoigu, the Ukrainian army lost 196 tanks and armored vehicles, 12 aircraft, 1 helicopter, 65 drones, 6 long-range air defense missile systems, 97 multiple launch rocket systems, and 166 field combat vehicles. Cannons and mortars , 216 various vehicles, etc.
According to the " Global Times " reporter, the Russian army's offensive in the battle to "capture the city" in the Donbas region is getting faster and faster. The Russian army's "urban assault" in the Donbas region did not go well at first. After 82 days of hard fighting in Mariupol, the Russian army finally eliminated the remaining enemies of the Azov Steel Plant. Various comments in the West believe that the Russian military's combat sustainment capabilities are insufficient and subsequent offensives will become increasingly sluggish. However, in the battle for Severodonetsk, the Russian army spent about 30 days forcing the Ukrainian army guarding the Azote Chemical Plant to "strategically withdraw". On June 25, after the Russian army announced that it had completely occupied Severodonetsk, it did not adjust its combat rhythm and quickly penetrated into Lisichansk. As a result, in only 8 days, it forced the Ukrainian army to implement a "strategic withdrawal" from Lisichansk. ". From 82 days to 30 days, and then to 8 days, this fully illustrates the offensive posture of the Russian army, and also "slaps in the face" some Western comments about "weak Russia".
According to a report by the Russian Federal News Agency on the 4th, Russian military expert Vasily Dandekin said that Lisichansk is located on a hill, so attacking this city is much more difficult than Severodonetsk. The Ukrainian army had previously made a big bet in Lisichansk and planned to carry out resistance no less than that of Mariupol. However, with the support of the Russian army's artillery , the Russian army successfully captured the city. He said: "Due to the Russian attack, a large number of Ukrainian troops were surrounded. Therefore, the Ukrainian army command decided to retreat. Lisichansk was completely liberated. Unlike Severodonetsk, it was almost not destroyed. This Is it a very important moment? "
new tactics are verified?
As of now, the outside world is still wondering what factors prompted another "strategic retreat" of the Ukrainian army. Why did the previously expected long-term offensive and defensive battle not occur in Lischichansk?
Alestovich, the chief adviser to Zelensky’s office, said on the 4th: “The defense of Lischichansk and Severodonetsk was a successful military operation. The main task was to contain the main enemy forces and cause them losses. Western weapons supply buys time to improve the second line of defense and create conditions for our offensive operations in other areas of the front line. All tasks of the operation have been completed. I believe that the Ukrainian army will be able to recapture Lisichansk in the future. "
However, the Russian side does not want to take it quickly. Nizhny Lisichansk gave a completely different answer. Russia's "Viewpoint" reported on the 4th that Zamid Chalayev, commander of the Chechen Republic's special police regiment and Russian hero, said: "We have expanded the front line locally, and we continue to launch attacks on Lisichansk. We have a long-term The 50-kilometer front line can 'exhaust' the strength of the Ukrainian army. The Russian army knows that the Ukrainian army has a lot of troops in the area and uses many civilians to cover it. They are forced to attack us in the wild. launched an attack. As a result, their strength was gradually exhausted.We chose this tactic to avoid harming civilians. At the same time, we deliberately left some positions and houses to the enemy in order to lure the Ukrainian troops away from densely populated areas and then eliminate their effective strength. "
According to a report by the Russian Federal News Agency on the 4th, Russian military expert Yuri Knutov said that the biggest tactical change of the Russian army is the large-scale use of artillery to destroy various enemy fortifications, command posts and personnel gathering places. Russian military tactics The changes caught the Ukrainian soldiers in Lisichansk by surprise. The Russian army did not allow the Ukrainian army to gain an advantage in the city defense battle. The Russian army attacked the Ukrainian army positions in the city from four directions, which caused the Ukrainian troops stationed in the city to attack. Soldiers are panicking. The new tactics used in Lisichansk have proven to be effective and reliable. The Russian army will use this tactic to further attack other Ukrainian positions and "liberate" Donbas settlements.
A military expert said on the 4th. He also told a reporter from the Global Times that the rapid occupation of Lisichansk shows that the Russian army has found effective tactics suitable for the Ukrainian battlefield. After focusing on combat operations in the Donbas region, the Russian army no longer divides its forces and advances rashly, but fights steadily, especially in the Donbas region. It is to concentrate superior forces to carry out key attacks, and use "stability tactics" and "drag tactics" for other areas. For example, when focusing on attacking cities such as Severodonetsk and Lischichansk, the outside world has been paying attention to them. The battle of Slavyansk. The Russian army only harassed the surrounding areas of Slavyansk to ensure that the Ukrainian army could not carry out effective reinforcements to the above-mentioned key target cities, and then used the "cannibalization" strategy to eat up key cities and towns one by one. The Ukrainian army has strength. This also fully shows that the Russian army has learned its lesson and no longer pursues a quick victory, because this may mean falling into difficulties such as logistical supply difficulties and large casualties. The Russian army makes full use of its firepower advantage and uses heavy artillery more. The rounds of bombardment of the defensive positions and defense lines built by the Ukrainian army caused effective damage to the Ukrainian army's effective forces and carried out a war of attrition against the Ukrainian army.
When Russian Defense Minister Shoigu reported the results of the Luhansk area to Putin? There is a set of figures worthy of attention when the Ukrainian army withdrew from Lisichansk, leaving behind 39 tanks and armored vehicles, 11 artillery pieces and mortars, 48 sets of "Javelin" and NLAW anti-tank missile systems, and 18 sets of "Stinger" anti-aircraft missiles. system and 3 drones. Some analysts believe that if so many weapons and equipment were left during the evacuation, it means that the Ukrainian army evacuated very hastily.
Itar-Tass news agency reported on the 34th that the Assistant Minister of the Interior of the "Luhansk People's Republic". Kiselev said on the 4th that the Ukrainian army withdrew from Lisichansk without receiving orders from the headquarters. The Ukrainian armed forces that had retreated to Seversk had been defeated, with only 40% of the total strength remaining. .
The above-mentioned experts believe that the rapid withdrawal from Lisichansk shows that there are serious problems with the morale of the Ukrainian army. This shows that the Ukrainian army has placed its bet on the Lisichansk blockade and is preparing to use the city as a basis to concentrate its superior forces to engage in a deadly battle with Western military aid and equipment and the Russian army. However, the situation changed too quickly, and the Ukrainian army was quickly defeated and "evacuated" again.
Experts believe that in the offensive and defensive battles in Mariupol and Severodonetsk, the Ukrainian army only began to take action after the Ukrainian official issued official surrender and transfer orders; in Lischichansk, it was the Russian army that occupied the city and found that there was no enemy. After the people defended it, the Ukrainian government passively announced "evacuation". This shows to a large extent that there is a serious problem with the morale of the Ukrainian army.
Source: Global Times
Process Editor: TF022
