Reports and photos were released by Ukrainian authorities yesterday, detailing the situation in various border settlements with Belarus and the Russian Federation. It seems that the fighting in the northern and northeastern regions of Ukraine has temporarily ceased. The Russian army suffered significant casualties and executed a strategic retreat, focusing their efforts on the eastern and southern battlefields. It has been reported that some of the Russian troops previously stationed in the north have been relocated to new areas.
The Russians protected their retreat by destroying Ukrainian infrastructure and by laying mines to make it harder for Ukrainians to catch up and / or destroy them. It is increasingly likely that a large number of mines and unexploded ordnance will make it very difficult for the population to return. The population will return, but the destruction is so great in many places that they have nowhere to return.
There are growing reports that the Russian military has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ukrainian politicians and President Zelensky use the term genocide, but as far as we know, we do not yet have enough confirmation for such a definition. And with definitions, I remind you:
- war crime — criminal offences committed during armed conflict, and the term refers to serious violations of the rules of war,
- crime against humanity — widespread or systematic attacks on civilians,
- genocide — acts committed with the intent to completely or partially destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.
We will find out the number of victims in Mauripol very hard or probably never after the Russian army completely takes over the city and destroys the evidence.
It is uncertain what will occur in the regions that Russia has identified as its primary objective for the "special operation". Increasing the presence of troops and heavy weaponry will undoubtedly escalate the damage and pose a greater challenge to defence. Recently, a local Ukrainian official advised residents to consider leaving the area rather than waiting to see what unfolds.
Ukrainians are still receiving military aid and some equipment for which they have yet to practice how to use it. We are still waiting for the first reports and results of sending American flying missiles AeroVironment Switchblade (versions 300 and 600 seem to be arriving). Although the Russian side is trying to destroy the repair facilities, we can expect that the Ukrainians will put more and more captured equipment into the fight.
