Russian control of Bakhmut coincided with the establishment of defensive equipment and fortifications by Moscow on the southern front, in particular “Kherson and Zaporizhia”, where Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu paid a visit to the ground at the forward command center of one of the formations of the Vostok Group of Forces in Zaporizhia, which is one of the four Ukrainian regions announced by Russia, including last year.
The Russian visit and move to the southern front, according to Vorogtsov Starikov, a Russian researcher at the “Volsk” military institution, coincides with Kiev’s preparations to launch a so-called major counterattack and the escalation of Kiev’s military activity along the front line. against Russian forces, bolstered by strong Western support in terms of weaponry and aid programs.
Shoigu and visit the south
Russian forces have in recent weeks reinforced their defensive positions at and around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in the south of the country, ahead of an expected counterattack in the region.
Here, Vorogtsov Starikov refuted, during his statements to “Sky News Arabia”, the reasons for the visit of the Russian Minister of Defense to the Zaporizhia front, in particular:
The Russian army suffered several losses in order to control Zaporizhia and does not want to repeat its losses. Zaporizhia is of particular importance for Russia in the way of negotiations, because it is a nuclear region which guarantees strategic control. There are vigorous Russian efforts to ensure the existence of decisive defenses that do not allow any Ukrainian breakthrough to the front.
The Russian researcher of the military institution “Volsk” said that the Russian army forces have doubled their plans on the southern front, in particular for the nuclear power plant and its surroundings, to prevent Ukrainian forces from reaching it, d especially since Moscow has had firing sites above some of the nuclear power plant buildings for months, and set up nets in what is likely to be an obstacle to drones.
The International Atomic Energy Agency says military presence and activity are increasing around Zaporizhia, underscoring the need for urgent action, and the IAEA has been warning for months of the risk of a major accident at the nuclear power plant.
Controlling the nuclear power plant is a form of security and an important card in the way of winning war and domination, especially since the Zaporizhya nuclear power plant contains 6 reactors designed by the former Soviet Union.
Control chart in times of war and peace
In the context of the battles and movements around Zaporizhia, Dr. Basil Al-Hajj Jassim, a researcher of Russian-European affairs, argues that the nuclear power plant alone guarantees a special advantage to those who control it, and that its presence under Russian control gives a point of superiority over Moscow in the war and the manner of negotiation also when sitting at a table with Ukrainians, which prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to announce his annexation to his country last year .
Basil al-Hajj Jassim added, in statements exclusive to Sky News Arabiya, that the appearance of the Russian Defense Minister in a videotape surrounded by senior leaders in one of the command centers has great implications, from especially since the battle of Zaporizhya is one of the battles settled for weeks in favor of Russia and does not constitute an obsession in the current period on the weight of the fighting around Solidar and in Bakhmut and its surroundings.
In the following lines, Jassem Al-Hajj Jassem explained the important messages of Sergei Shoigu’s visit to Zaporizhia.
The first message is that all battle axes have become available for ignition in the next few days, as the spring battle approaches. There are higher Russian mandates to pursue “active reconnaissance”. Moscow’s plans continue to detect enemy plans in advance and prevent their implementation. The Russian moves of the past and future days are in favor of not exhausting forces and ammunition and securing the front lines of battle. Strengthen soldiers’ spirit and boost morale before the decisive battle.
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