Putin’s “most important” decision – causing headaches:

Last week, the Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged that Ukrainian forces regained control of several areas in Kherson.

On Wednesday morning, Agence France-Presse reported that Ukraine had retaken five new settlements in Kherson.

– The Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated five more settlements in the Pereslav province: Novovasylvka, Novogrigoryivka, Nova Kamyanka, Trifonevka, Chervony, Daily report from the office of the President of Ukraine.

Two options for Putin

However, there are no indications yet that President Vladimir Putin will ask his forces to withdraw. According to the former General, Arne Bord Dalhaug, this is completely contrary to what is being reported within the Russian forces and among military bloggers.

According to the New York Times, Putin was increasingly involved in strategic planning around the Kherson region. A newspaper claims to know The strong president refused several requests from the troops to withdraw.

According to Dahlhog, two possible options were discussed: the Russian forces could either continue the fighting in Kherson, or an orderly withdrawal.

– By withdrawing from Kherson and to the eastern side of the river, they will be able to bring both people and as much material as possible. They could, in turn, use this to reorganize elsewhere, Dalhaug believes.

– gets run over

– This is a very important decision for Putin, he continues.

– What makes it so important?

– If the Russian forces surrounded the west of the river, this would be a great defeat for Putin.

Dalhaug notes that Ukraine has made significant progress in the Kherson region, but that there will still be more than 20,000 Russian soldiers in the area west of the Dnipro River.

Last week, Tom Rosth, principal lecturer in intelligence at the Norwegian Defense Academy, was able to explain how the Ukrainian attack in Kherson took place.

– one from the north on the western side of the Dnipro River and down along the river. There they penetrated well-fortified Russian positions on Sunday evening. At the same time, he added, they broke through the river at the Inholets River over time Daily newspaper.

– The Russians are being invaded on several axes and they are on the defensive. Over time, they were partially isolated. He continued that they were able to use the boats to supply their forces, but the bridges in the area were constantly being destroyed by the precision artillery of the Ukrainians.

Compared to dictators

Russia can announce it on Saturday Sergei Sorovikin has been appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian forces in Ukraine. Dallhog thinks it doesn’t change anything about the possible withdrawal decision.

– The general suggested that they withdraw, but Putin thinks he knows best. It is undoubtedly a decision that Putin will make himself.

Dalhaug believes that Putin is becoming more and more like previous dictators in the way he rules and makes decisions.

The fact that he has much higher ambitions than they have the resources for is a typical feature of dictators. He constantly assigned the troops to tasks that they could not perform. Dalhaug believes he has not adapted the goal to the unfolding reality on the ground.