General Lord Richard Dent, formerly a top military leader in the United Kingdom, said on Sunday that it made “perfect sense” for Ukraine’s forces to “move to a more defensive line”. The city of Bakhmut was fiercely contested.
Dent is the UK’s former Chief of the General Staff – the professional head of the British Army. Speaking on Britain’s Sky News, he argued that Bakhmut is strategically “not very important” to Ukraine.
Despite this, the besieged city has already worked effectively, “at which many Russian lives have been lost, and therefore it is entirely possible for the Ukrainians to withdraw to a more defensive line and continue the fight there.” Kind of makes sense,” Dent said. .
What fighters on the frontline are saying: A local Ukrainian commander dismissed growing speculation of a possible withdrawal from the city on Sunday, saying there had been no “strategic change” on their side.
“On the contrary, some new reserves are coming in as reinforcements to hold the defense,” said Volodymyr Nazarenko, deputy commander of Ukraine’s National Guard. “The entire battle area is under chaotic shelling but there is communication with the city, there are routes that have not been cut.”
More from Dennett on the Shape of War: The general said it will be important for Ukraine to deter Russia’s current offensive, which he believes will intensify. Then, in late spring or early summer, Ukraine “could launch a really strong counterattack using the modern equipment that we’re giving them now,” he said.
“I think I am not alone in believing that a few decisive blows at certain points along that extended front of the Russian army could have the effect of breaking the morale of the Russian soldier or breaking the back of the Russian army,” Dant said.
Asked about Western supplies of equipment to Ukraine, the general said: “Frankly, I don’t think we’ve done enough. We need to do as much as possible to make sure that this war This year is over.”
