According to the former commander of the US Army in Europe, retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, it is the Crimea occupied by Russia that is the key to Ukraine's victory in the criminal war unleashed by the Kremlin.
Why the liberation of Crimea is the key to Ukraine's victory in the war
This is what we call the "decisive territory". And whoever controls Crimea, in my opinion, will win this war. I don't think there's going to be a ground offensive on the peninsula anytime soon, but either way, that's an outdated way of thinking. I mean that it is important to first make Crimea unsuitable for Russian troops,’’ says Hodges.
In a comment to the journalists of the Sestry publication, he emphasised that for the de-occupation of the peninsula annexed by Russia, Ukraine needs high-precision, long-range weapons capable of hitting at any distance.
Every Russian ship, every Russian plane, every headquarters, every missile launch pad, every air base. Therefore, it will make Crimea unsuitable for use by Russia,’’ explains the retired American general.
According to him, another key element of the strategy of de-occupation of Crimea will be the Ukrainian military's complete isolation of the peninsula.
The first is the illegally erected Kerch Bridge. And the second is the so-called land corridor, which runs from Rostov along the Azov coast through Mariupol and Berdyansk to Crimea. And I think it is possible to cut both of these paths. Accurate fire from a long distance,’’ emphasises Hodges.
What is known about the situation in Crimea
According to the representatives of the Atesh partisan resistance movement on the territory of Crimea occupied by Russia, the Russian war criminals are currently actively trying to strengthen the defence of Yevpatoriya.
In particular, in the area of the city, the occupiers are building a powerful line of defence and fortification structures.
Agents of our movement record the efforts of the occupiers to create a greater number of engineering and fortification structures in the Yevpatoriya district,’’ Atesh representatives note.
The partisans report that in the Yevpatoriya area the occupiers are erecting:
firing points on construction sites located on the coastline;
long-term fire points;
secret positions;
dragon's teeth with wire.
According to Atesh agents, fortifications are being built around the city and its borders.
Construction is underway along the shoreline of Lake Sasyk-Syvash south of Yevpatoriya, along the railway and north of Yevpatoriya near Donuzlav Bay, Atesh emphasises.
