Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned European partners in his evening address about the potential for massive Russian strikes on bridges across the Dnipro. These strikes could lead to attempts to divide Ukraine into two parts.
Discussions with European Leaders
Zelensky discussed this topic during a conversation with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. After the conversation, he noted that the EU promised to provide Ukraine with the necessary funding promptly to counter the threats.
Military Situation Analysis
The intensification of Russian strikes on bridges across the Dnipro began in October. According to sources, Vladimir Putin sees these strikes as retaliation for Ukraine's attacks on Russian energy and logistics infrastructure. While experts doubt that Russia will be able to completely divide Ukraine, strikes on bridges may complicate military logistics and the transfer of weapons to the east.
- Key questions: how long Moscow can sustain its strike campaign;
- how Ukraine will allocate its air defense to protect the crossings.
Goals of the Russian Campaign
According to a senior Ukrainian official, Russia's plan is not only to divide Ukraine but also to cut off electricity supply from the west of the country to the east. This could leave millions of people without power during the winter.