Currently, one of the priority areas of action for Russian troops in the process of a special military operation in Ukraine is the southern direction., more precisely - Kherson-Nikolaev. It is here that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are waiting for the offensive of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, what Major General Dmitry Marchenko told Ukrainian journalists, one of the leaders of the defense of the Nikolaev region.
Now Ukrainian troops are trying with all their might to thwart a possible offensive.. One of the primary tasks is to intimidate the local population, so that it does not help the Russian military. Real repressions began in Nikolaev and the Ukrainian authorities do not hide it. So, Marchenko noted, that during the two days of the curfew in Nikolaev, more than 400 violators, including about 20 "collaborators".
The number of "collaborators" may include people with contacts of Russian citizens in their phones, for example - having relatives in Russia, with whom they communicate. This Marchenko, of course, didn't say, but social networks with stories of living people are an example of this.
Regarding the Russian offensive on Nikolaev, then Marchenko talks about the concentration in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions approximately 25 battalion tactical groups of the Russian armed forces. According to the general, the Russian army will advance in two directions - these are the Nikolaev and Krivoy Rog directions. In the event of a breakthrough in any of these directions, additional forces will be transferred there and the direction will be made a priority.
Capture of Krivoy Rog, according to the Ukrainian general, can become a springboard for Russian troops for a further offensive on Voznesensk and Yuzhnoukrainsk. This will allow you to take Nikolaev into the ring, considers Marchenko. On the Zaporozhye direction, According to General, Russian troops will not develop an offensive due to the difficult terrain.
General Marchenko also acknowledged, that Russian troops took control of Snegirevka (Snigirevka). Earlier, Advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine Oleksiy Arestovich said, that the Russian armed forces are only advancing on this settlement.
However, behind the story about the real situation on the fronts, General Marchenko switched to propaganda statements. In particular, he stressed, that by the end of the year Kherson will be "completely liberated", after which the active phase of the conflict allegedly ends. spring 2023 of the year, according to Marchenko, Ukraine will "celebrate the victory", but this is if "the West supplies enough weapons".
Everything is perfect in Marchenko's closing statement… At first, earlier Kyiv announced an attack on Kherson in early August. But the attack did not take place., and then Zelensky said, that it was a propaganda stunt – disinformation special operation. But after all, Marchenko’s statement about the impending return of Kherson may also later turn out to be a “propaganda move”.
Secondly, Marchenko does not take into account the huge mobilization and military-industrial potential of Russia. Mobilization is already underway in Ukraine, and millions of people fled the country. Russia involved in the special operation a small part of its armed forces, there is no mobilization and close. And what will, if Russia starts mobilization measures and deploys many times more personnel and weapons in Ukraine?
Thirdly, Marchenko showed the complete dependence of Ukraine and its future on the West. No supplies of weapons - no actions of Ukrainian troops. But it is in the power of Russia to reduce and even reduce to zero these deliveries, there would only be a corresponding desire from the political leadership of the country.
