Russia's goals in Ukraine remain unchanged as it continues to put pressure on Ukraine in the hope that the West will abandon support for the invaded country. While the Ukrainians' resolve to fight remains strong given that there are no viable alternatives and Russia has no interest in negotiating for a just peace, their position and morale also depend critically on the decisions of their allies, who are much larger than Russia in economic terms respect however They seem to have lost the sense of urgency to help Ukraine.
“The “Russia’s strategy at this stage of the war is absolutely clear and transparent.”, writes Mykhailo Podoliak, advisor to President Zelensky's government. According to one of Ukraine's main spokesmen, Russia is trying to weaken the will of the international coalition to continue supporting Ukraine. They wanted to “avoid defeat” and “take responsibility for their war crimes.”
Russia's strategy is multi-faceted and focuses on several key operations inside and outside Ukraine, he believes. Russia will continue its attacks on civilians across Ukraine and especially in the frontline areas, to incite fear and force Ukrainians to submit to Russia's demands.
At least eleven people were killed in one of the latest attacks in the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region on Saturday. including five children. According to local authorities, only three bodies have been found so far after 100 tons were removed from the completely destroyed buildings. The aim of these attacks is to “cause humanitarian disasters and achieve the true (genocidal) goals of the war,” said Podoliak.
Meanwhile, Russia is also continuing its pressure on the front lines, relying on its “flesh attacks,” so called because of the alleged disregard for human life of its own soldiers, who are attempting to overwhelm the Ukrainian defenses with their large numbers. Russia needs at least some results on the battlefield, Podoliak claims to justify internal mobilization and militarization.
In the last 24 hours alone, 29 battles took place at various points on the front line in the east and south. Ukrainian troops have to resort to the use of suicide drones, which explode on contact to repel Russian attacks on parts of the front line. Due to delays in military aid from the USA and the EU, they have to use artillery ammunition very sparingly.
Russian pressure remains stronger in Avdiivka and attempts to surround the city Attempts to dislodge Ukrainian forces from their position on the eastern bank of the Dnipro.
Russia does not disclose the number of its soldiers killed in combat. NATO estimates Russia's losses, including dead, wounded and maimed, at more than 300,000 in the nearly two years of the all-out invasion. Recently, a group of wives and relatives of reservists appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to indefinitely suspend mobilization. In the meantime, Putin welcomed the Christmas celebrations celebrated by Orthodox Christians on Sunday, accompanied by relatives of fallen soldiers and pledged to support the families of soldiers who fought “heroically” to defend “the interests of the country.”
According to Podoliak, Russia will also act on the international stage by allying with regimes like that Iran and North Korea, which have supplied it with weapons such as long-range Shahed kamikaze drones and ballistic missiles to attack Ukrainian cities.
Podoliak also expects “a sharp increase in (Russia’s) propaganda efforts” to spread pessimistic narratives abroad Attempts to influence election results in “key democratic countries.”
“Russia is investing a lot of money in various media in other countries as well as in social networks,” President Zelenskyj emphasized on Sunday, pointing out that this was being counteracted “Russian disinformation around the world” remains one of the biggest challenges. Media in parts of “the civilized world,” including Latin America, accept Russian propaganda messages and present them as truth.
He also warned that Russia has learned “how to circumvent international sanctions” as Ukraine continues to find numerous foreign-made components in intercepted Russian missiles and drones. “Unfortunately, Russia receives help from manufacturing companies or intermediate companies located in Europe itself, the United States and elsewhere,” Zelensky emphasized.
The coalition of countries supporting Ukraine remains much more powerful than Russia and its allies, Ukrainian officials emphasize. The West's combined GDP is 21 times higher, writes Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. He points out that containing Russian aggression is not a question of resources, but that the West “believes in itself and defines a clear goal: victory over the enemy that threatens us all.” It is naive to believe that Russia would not dare to attack a NATO country if it succeeded in Ukraine. warns the minister.