According to the Wall Street Journal, Moscow appears to be planning a brutal war of attrition to wipe out Kharkiv’s population, making life in the city untenable.
From: Euromaiden Press BY BEN JAMIN LOOIJEN
Although the danger of a rapid offensive on Kharkiv has receded, Russia is planning a brutal war of attrition against the city of Kharkiv and its population, making life in the city untenable.
This is stated in the material of The Wall Street Journal.
The publication states that Ukrainian forces have stopped a Russian advance north of Kharkiv, but the city remains in Moscow’s crosshairs.
“Of course, Putin still wants Kharkiv,” Oleh Syniehubov, head of the region’s military administration, said.
He noted that Russia has deployed only a fraction of the troops needed to storm the city, which, according to his estimates, could require up to half a million soldiers.
Furthermore, Oleksandr Lytvynenko, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, notes that Russia could employ tactics it used during the war in Syria against Kharkiv.
“Russia is ready for a long war. In the worst case, the Kremlin could repeat the strategy it used against Aleppo in Syria in 2016, when the Russian air force, supporting the Syrian government in its civil war, destroyed electricity and water sources and bombed hospitals and schools,” Lytvynenko said.
Voice of Ukraine 