NEW – May 29, 2022
The southern offensive in Ukraine is on a large scale and resolute
Russia is establishing a peaceful life in the Kherson region and Zaporozhye. Along the way, the offensive continues in the Nikolaev and Dnepropetrovsk regions, which will protect residents from Ukrainian sabotage, and at the same time turn the tide of the battle for Donbass.
“Grad” and S-400 divisions will protect the port of Mariupol from Ukrainian sabotage
Russian troops continue to improve their tactical positions and strengthen defensive lines in the southern direction, where so far the Russian Armed Forces have achieved the greatest success during the special operation.
The American Institute for the Study of War regularly monitors the development of military and civilian infrastructure in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.
And it notes that Russia has already managed to create a well-layered, deep defence here, which will effectively resist possible attempts of Ukrainian counterattacks. However, Kiev only hints and threatens such an offensive, there are simply no forces for any significant blow.
Meanwhile, Russia is moving land, sea and military equipment en masse along the land corridor from Crimea. Control over strategic objects of transport infrastructure – airfields and railways, and most importantly, ports – is being strengthened. Russia currently controls four major seaports: Kherson, Mariupol, Berdyansk and Skadovsk.
The port infrastructure is in good condition, even despite the fighting. The water area of the port of Mariupol has already been completely cleared of mines and ships flooded by Ukrainians during the flight. And already on May 28, the first vessel entered the port — a Slavutych-type cargo carrier, which was placed under loading. Bulk carriers will have to take out dozens of tons of metal and metal structures that have accumulated in the port. The first batch will go to Rostov-on-Don.
Such important infrastructure facilities in the southern regions taken under the control of Russian troops, such as the port of Mariupol, will be protected, among other things, by MLRS “Grad”, the Institute for the Study of War writes. In addition, additional S-400 battalions have been deployed in the northwestern part of Crimea. Missile systems allow you to completely cover the sky from possible attacks and sabotage.
Offensive in Zaporozhye, Nikolaev and Dnepropetrovsk regions will break the logistics of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
Offensive operations are also continuing to expand the southern bridgehead. The Institute for War Research recorded manoeuvres along the administrative border of the Nikolaev and Kherson regions. In particular, on May 26, assault operations were recorded in the area of Tavrichesky and Nikolaevka – these are small settlements that are located on the northern bank of the Kakhovka reservoir. The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant is located on the southern bank of the reservoir in the town of Energodar. In addition, the reservoir is extremely important for the water supply of Crimea, because water flows from it to the North Crimean Canal, which was unblocked by the Russian military in the first days of the special operation in February.
The Institute for War Research notes that Russian troops have significantly increased their grouping around Vasilyevka and Pologi, which in the future will allow for an effective offensive in the directions of Kamenskoye, Orekhov and Gulyai-Pole.
These are the settlements of the Zaporozhye region that still remain under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Their capture by the Russian Armed Forces will allow blocking the supply channel of the Ukrainian group in Donbass, American experts say.
This is probably what the missile attack on the production facilities of the “Motor Sich” plant in Zaporozhye, which remains the main logistics hub for the Donbass grouping of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, was primarily aimed at.
Attacks on military installations in the Dnepropetrovsk and Nikolaev regions (including Krivoy Rog) are also designed to completely destroy Ukrainian logistics, experts at the Institute for War Research say. At the same time, they note that the offensive in the Zaporozhye region is not a priority for the Russian troops, but a supporting one — in Donbass.
New Peaceful life — Russian phone numbers, passports and pensions
At the same time, peaceful life is being established in the territories of Ukraine controlled by Russia. The Institute for the Study of War lists numerous positive steps that Moscow is taking.
The Zaporozhye region is being transferred to the Moscow time zone. In the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, Russian license plates for cars and Russian prefixes for mobile phones are being introduced. The reception of Russian TV and radio is becoming more and more confident: The Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation sent three repeaters to Mariupol.
The authorities also promised to create new systems of budget subsidies and taxation focused on Russian legislation in the near future. Starting in June, pensions will be paid in rubles.
On May 25, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree simplifying the process of obtaining Russian citizenship. For this purpose, passport offices are being created again (in particular, in Melitopol). The exact number of those who received Russian passports is still unknown. But we can assume that the tally will soon be in the thousands.
Konstantin Olshansky
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