Although a clear breakthrough is not visible, progress encourages Ukraine to consider the possibility of a large -scale set of personnel.
In recent weeks, Russian troops have gained small territorial achievements on the eastern front of Ukraine, using their advantage in the live power in grueling battles and inducing the Ukrainian authorities to consider mobilizing up to 500,000 soldiers to continue the grueling struggle next year.
The head of Ukrainian military intelligence Kirill Budanov said this week that he did not see an alternative to large -scale mobilization to compensate for the losses of Ukraine. And President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that his army leadership asked him to mobilize from 450,000 to 500,000.
"This is a serious figure," said Mr. Zelensky at a press conference on Tuesday, adding that a plan has to be drawn up before he can make a decision. Although many Ukrainians have not yet been drafted into the army, the authorities reluctantly resorted to mass conscription, fearing exacerbation of social tension.
Recently, Russian troops have been approaching the city of Avdiivka, a Ukrainian stronghold in Donetsk region. The admiration of Avdiivka would be a strategic success for Russia - the city is a core of Ukrainian defense in the region - and would strike the moral spirit of Ukrainians. The city is a symbol of resistance because it has withstood almost a ten -year war since the first attempt to seize it in 2014, which was carried out by Russia.
The recent successes of Russia near Avdiivka, as well as around other cities, such as Kupyansk, Bakhmut and Marinka, is also another testimony that Russia has firmly captured the initiative at most of the battlefield, after the Ukrainian General acknowledged that the summer counter -offensive of his country had entered a dead end.
Russia is making this progress at a critical moment for the government in Kiev. The political struggle in Washington and the European Union has blocked the delivery of military and financial assistance packages, which, according to Ukraine, is essential for maintaining the front line against Russia.
"Currently, the situation on the front line is difficult and is gradually deteriorating," Yegor Chernev, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, said in an interview. "Without American ammunition, we begin to lose the territories that have been difficult to conquered this summer."
On Friday, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, who has been posting a position, announced that his government is preparing to send Ukraine the first party of 18 F-16 fighters-powerful aircraft that Ukraine has long been lobbying and on which Ukrainian pilots have started training.
