US top general assesses Russia's abilities to launch major offensive against Ukraine
US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown (Getty Images)
US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown believes that concerns about a potential Russian large-scale spring offensive against Ukraine may be exaggerated, as he says in an interview with Defense One.
Brown once again called for the rapid adoption of defense aid to Ukraine. He acknowledges that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will face continued Russian artillery shelling in the near future.
At the same time, he voiced doubts about Russia's ability to organize a new major offensive in Ukraine.
“I don't know if the Russians can generate a major offensive. I mean, if you look at…what's happened over the course of…the past year, the Russians have actually thrown a lot of capability and personnel and weapon systems and vehicles to gain what they have gained,” said the top US general.
Brown pointed out the significant losses Russia suffered amid such campaigns.
"And the way I would say, it's almost a meat grinder," he added.
He also believes that the risk of escalation from the Russian side is "not as high as maybe it was at the beginning."
Claims on possible Russian offensive
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with CBS News said that the situation on the front lines was stabilized after the winter escalation. The head of state added that Russia was likely preparing for a new offensive, which could take place at the end of May or in June.
According to the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Kharkiv will be a fatal city for the Russians in case of an enemy offensive.
Today the chief of the Kharkiv garrison, Serhii Melnyk, assured that there is currently no expecting of a new offensive on Kharkiv, as the Russians do not have the forces and means for it.
Recently, Russian media spread information about preparations for a covert mobilization to "surround Kharkiv." The mayor of the city, Ihor Terekhov, called these claims another hostile disinformation campaign.
Earlier, military expert Vladyslav Seleznov commented to RBC-Ukraine that Russian forces are unlikely to be able to attack Kharkiv or Sumy any time soon.
