The capture of Lisichansk and Severodonetsk is the unconditional success of the Russian army, but it was achieved at the cost of enormous efforts and victims and does not guarantee the Kremlin’s victory in the war against Ukraine, Western military experts believe.
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The Russian BBC Service provides an assessment of some analysts.
Nile Melvin, Royal United Institute of Defense Research (RUSI), in an interview with Reuters: “This is a tactical victory of Russia, achieved by a huge price.” “In order to succeed, it took them 60 days – this is very slow. I think the Russians will announce a certain victory, but the main battle is still ahead.”
Rob Li, a senior employee of the Research Institute of Foreign Policy in the United States and a former American Marine, also in an interview with Reuters: “Putin can present this as a sign of success. But from the point of view of a general situation, this does not mean that Ukraine will have to be in the near future Surrender or obey. “
Michael Clark, the former director of RUSI, in an interview with Times: “Although the army of the Russian Federation managed to achieve success, she failed to create a boiler and she was more worn out than Ukrainians. She paid very expensive for it.”
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Phillips O’Braian, professor of strategic research at St. Andrews: “Thanks to Ukrainian defense actions, Russians constantly have to go to a frontal offensive against trained and well-wealthy defenders. This is exactly what Ukrainians need to outline Russian forces.”