The latest developments in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict The battle for Maryinka and the strategic differences between the Ukrainian army
After celebrating the first Christmas on December 25, Ukraine suffered a major defeat, and the important town of Maryinka was occupied by Russian troops. Located 20 kilometers west of the city of Donetsk, Maryinka is an important Ukrainian stronghold in the Donbas region. Last year, fierce fighting broke out here, and the Russian army met with stubborn resistance from the Ukrainian army. Although the permanent population of Maryinka is only 10,000 people, there are many large cities in Ukraine and dense forests and water networks behind it, which provide a steady stream of troops and artillery support for the Ukrainian army.
After the Russian army took Maryinka, Ukraine initially denied the loss, but the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Zaluzhny finally confirmed the news. Zaluzhny said the same situation could happen in the next three to four months, in Avadiivka, another important town in eastern Ukraine. These two towns and **Mut have been the frontline positions of Ukraine in the offensive against Donbass for the past 8 years, with a large number of fortifications. Now, these hard bones have been pulled out by the Russian army, which makes people pay attention to the direction of the next battle.
According to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the goals of the special military operation in 2023 are basically completed, and Putin said that the Russian army can operate in a wider area. This implies that the Russian army has achieved a clear advantage on the battlefield. Previously, Ukraine had a fierce confrontation with the Russian army in battles such as **Mutt, but due to the depletion of Ukrainian personnel and equipment, the situation gradually turned unfavorable to Ukraine.
Strategic differences between Ukrainian ** Zelensky and the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Zaluzhny have also surfaced. Zaluzhny advocated exchanging time for space and focusing on preserving vital forces, while Zelensky insisted on holding his position to show "results" against the United States and the West. With the defeat of several key battles, the Ukrainian army was depleted. Now, the contradictions between the two have become public.
In the upcoming Ukraine ***, the struggle between the two will be even more intense. Zelenskyy warned Zaluzhny against getting involved in politics and denied the latter's request for 500,000 conscription. Zaluzhny directly denied Zelensky's statement, saying that no similar request had been made. The direction of this political struggle is interesting.
In general, the situation in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict is becoming more and more unfavorable for Ukraine. With the expansion of the superiority of the Russian army on the battlefield and the intensification of strategic differences within Ukraine, the future development of the situation is fraught with uncertainty. For Ukraine, how to seek a breakthrough in such a predicament has become an urgent problem. The international community also needs to pay close attention to the situation and make efforts for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
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