News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/3rd July 2024
Vladimir Putin has set “no limits” on the extent of territory he aims to seize in his ongoing war against Ukraine, defense analysts have cautioned. A recent report from a prominent U.S. think tank indicates that the Russian president and his Kremlin advisors have intentionally left their conquest objectives in Ukraine undefined, frequently suggesting that regions beyond Kherson, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts are considered part of Russia.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) highlighted that Russia perceives a strategic necessity to sustain military operations on various fronts. This tactic aims to thwart Ukraine’s ability to launch successful counter-offensives. Nicole Wolkov, a researcher specializing in Russia for the ISW, told Newsweek that Russia’s strategy to extend the war will likely push Putin to establish new territorial goals.
“Russia is making incremental gains in Ukraine to prolong the conflict, impede Ukraine’s ability to conduct major counter-offensives, and exhaust Western security support for Ukraine,” the ISW stated. Wolkov added, “Putin probably believes he can use Russia’s ability to maintain the initiative during this period to seize more territory. A prolonged war would also give Russia time to expand its defense industrial base and increase manpower.”
The ISW warned that a protracted war would encourage Putin to set new territorial objectives as long as he believes Ukrainian forces cannot effectively resist his advances or mount significant counter-offensives to reclaim lost territory. Russian officials have consistently denied the legitimacy of Ukrainian statehood and culture, indicating their interest in territories beyond the four oblasts.
The ISW also emphasized the critical need for swift military aid to Ukraine to shift the balance of the war. “If weapons are delivered timely and consistently, it could enable Ukraine to undertake offensive operations,” Wolkov noted amid the ongoing conflict.
This warning comes on the heels of reports from the Washington Post that Russia accidentally dropped glide bombs on its territory at least 38 times. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Russia launched hundreds of glide bombs at Ukraine in the past week alone. Writing on social media, he said, “This week alone, Russia has used more than 800 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine. Against our cities and communities, against our people, against everything that makes life normal.”
Glide bombs are Soviet-era munitions modified with wings and navigation systems for a gliding flight path to a target, allowing them to travel further distances with precision. These bombs, with a payload of up to 1.5 tonnes, are launched from aircraft flying out of range of air defenses.
Amid these developments, Ukraine dismissed claims from Belarus that it was amassing troops to reinforce their shared border. The Belarusian Defence Ministry alleged on Sunday that Ukraine was moving troops and weapons to the border. Border guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko refuted these claims on Ukrainian TV, stating, “It is not the first time Belarus offers information about Ukraine presenting a threat and strengthening itself. This is another part of the information operation conducted by Belarus with support from Russia.”
As the conflict continues, the international community remains focused on the evolving situation. The implications of Putin’s unrestricted territorial ambitions and the ongoing military dynamics underscore the critical importance of strategic and timely support for Ukraine. The world watches as Ukraine navigates these unprecedented challenges, striving to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against an increasingly aggressive Russian campaign.
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