Expect the Ukraine War to Slow Down in the Future – NRK Urix – Foreign news & documentaries

The war in Ukraine is in its ninth month, and winter is about to settle on the Great Plains of Eastern Europe.

Ukrainian forces have recaptured vast swaths of territory previously occupied by Russia.

At the same time, Russia continues to attack vital civilian infrastructure such as electricity and water supplies with missiles and drones.

On the ground, the fighting appears to have slowed, and will likely continue that way through the winter, says Director of US Intelligence Avril Haines.

At a defense forum in California on Saturday, she said most of the fighting in Ukraine is now taking place across the city Bakhmut in the Donetsk region.

– Haines said, according to the report, that there is still no indication that the resilience of the Ukrainian forces has weakened. BBC.

Haines believed that both sides would likely attempt to prepare for a counterattack in the spring.

Ukraine can use winter to its advantage

The Ukrainian civilian population has been severely affected by attacks on civilian infrastructure. Millions of Ukrainians have completely or partially lost power, and many have had to flee.

For Ukrainian soldiers, on the other hand, the cold can be beneficial, says Tormod Heyer, a professor at the Norwegian Armed Forces College.

– With the tele on the ground, more room for maneuver opens up for Ukrainian combat vehicles. Thus, divisions with tanks, artillery and soldiers could move more freely. Thus it would be easier to surround the Russians and fight in small, isolated groups, Heier tells NRK.

It also indicates that lower temperatures will cause much of the vegetation to disappear.

– This makes it difficult for the Russians to camouflage themselves and hide behind trees and bushes. Thus, satellites and drones will easily detect where the Russians are gathering, which the Ukrainians can use to find out where the biggest weaknesses in the Russian defense lines are hidden, says the professor.

Heier also believed that already poorly motivated Russian soldiers would become less motivated when winter came.

For Russian soldiers who are essentially waging an aggressive war on the lands of their brotherly people, the harsh climate will thus add another stone to the burden when it comes to continuing their will to fight through the winter, says Heyer.

Tormod Hare was a guest on Urix this week. You can watch the programme over here.

Reports that Ukraine crossed the Dnieper

It was reported on Sunday that Ukrainian forces managed to cross the Dnieper River in the recently liberated city of Kherson.

The American Research Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote in its daily report that the Ukrainian flag should have been raised on the eastern side of the river in Kherson. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers were said to have posted photos on social media of themselves crossing the river in boats.

ISW refers to soldiers from Carlson’s Special Unit who self-published a movie cable That shows the Ukrainian flag on a crane. The crane will be located on the eastern bank of the Dnieper in the city of Kherson.

It is said that the Russian forces entrenched themselves in several places on the eastern side of the river after withdrawing from Kherson.

So far, no information has been received confirming a Ukrainian attack on the eastern bank of the river.

Russian oil price ceiling

At the same time, Western countries are trying to put pressure on Russia.

European Union countries agreed on Friday on a Russian oil price ceiling of $60 a barrel. barrel. The G7 countries and Australia also joined the price ceiling.

The purpose of the price cap is to hit Russia’s oil revenues, to reduce the country’s ability to finance the war of aggression in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes the $60 price ceiling is too high.

– Zelensky said that the level is not serious because this level is very comfortable for Russia.

Several analysts also noted that the $60 price ceiling is unlikely to be affected strongly by today’s oil price.

Russia, for its part, said it would not accept a ceiling on oil prices.