Ukraine war approaching potential decisive turning point, former British Army general says
A former British Army General says Ukraine no longer regards Russia "as a sanctuary" in Moscow's military effort, indicating a potential "decisive turning point" in the war.
General Sir Richard Barrons, the former head of Joint Forces Command, spoke to Forces News following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement that "war is returning to Russia" after recent drone strikes on Moscow.
Reports from Russia say that a skyscraper in the capital city was struck by an overnight drone attack for the second time in three days - Russia's defence ministry described this as a Ukrainian "terrorist attack", although Ukraine did not directly claim responsibility.
Potential 'turning points'
"The war has long touched Russian territory in terms of sanctions, the previous acts, including drones, casualties and the general shattering effect on the Russian economy," Gen Barrons told Forces News.
"What is new is the idea that Ukraine doesn't regard Russia as a sanctuary for the Russian military effort, but it also indicates that this war is coming to one of its decisive, or potentially at least, turning points."
The former British Army General also highlighted that: "We've seen this ramping up of rhetoric, we have seen the Russian attempt to dial down on the Ukrainian grain export which affects perhaps 400 million hungry people around the world."
He added: "Above all of that we are expecting to see the 2023 Ukrainian counter-offensive finally get going if that is still a sensible thing to do."
Ukrainian counter-offensive breakthrough
Last month, Ukraine launched a counter-offensive that focused on a southward campaign to drive a wedge between Russian forces holding territory in the east and the annexed Crimean peninsula, and also on winning back ground around Bakhmut.
President Zelensky on Sunday hailed a "powerful day" in Ukraine's counter-offensive, highlighting the fierce fighting near the eastern town of Bakhmut.
Even though Ukraine continues to not directly claim responsibility for the drone attacks on Russia, Ukraine's president said Putin's war was "gradually returning to Russia's territory – to its symbolic centres".
Gen Barrons highlighted to Forces News that, as well as the counter-offensive now focusing on three different areas, the recent evolutions of the strike on Russia have made it "possible" for Ukraine to know where to break through Russia's resolute defences.
"We've seen Ukraine try a number of different ways of finding a way through these frankly prolific Russian defences, lots of mines, and in many places three belts of defence fortifications with a depth of about 30km," he said.
"And so far, nothing Ukraine has done has penetrated those lines of defence, but they do sense that the Russian defence is a little more brittle.
"It is possible, but only possible, I think, that Ukraine has worked out where if it applies its main force, perhaps 30,000 people, mostly equipped now with Nato stuff and training, if they apply that forces where they think the Russians will crack, maybe, just maybe, they can break through."
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