FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
KYIV – Mykhailo Podolyak, your counteroffensive appears to be essentially halted on the very long land front, while you are having success with the bombings in Crimea. Is that your feeling too?
“We have tactical objectives in various sectors of the front and a strategic objective is to eliminate Crimea’s ability to supply the troops at the front.” We are succeeding here, that’s true. We planned the attack in three phases. Destroy radio and electronic communications systems and radar antennas to open the skies over the Black Sea. And we are at an excellent point. The second phase is the destruction of the Russian Black Sea Fleet or at least its removal from Crimea. And we succeed. The third phase will consist of compromising its logistical infrastructure serving the army: barracks, group bases, food, fuel and ammunition depots, transport routes including the Kerch Bridge. That is why our attacks on Crimea will increase.”
Why is Crimea so important?
“About 80 percent of what the first line needs goes through there.”
Is the Russian anti-aircraft defense system over Crimea really at risk?
“Yes, some of their S400 systems, the most efficient ones, are out of service. The triumphs remain, but are less effective. In recent days we have been able to hit them more easily with our drones or, depending on the target, with missiles.”
Will you also use the American long-range ATACMS missiles that Biden just promised?
“They are actually designed to destroy their logistics lines, but I would like to highlight two points. We have undertaken not to use them against the territory of the Russian Federation, but Crimea is Ukrainian under international law, so there would be no contraindication. Secondly, our General Staff also works very well with the drones we produce.”
Are you saying that if you eliminate Crimea as a logistics center you will win the war?
“It will definitely be a great success. The Russians will be weaker. It will only take a few days to notice.”
As?
“The Russian troops on the front will panic and Moscow’s political rhetoric will change completely.” The Kremlin will dust off the nuclear threat. Not just Medvedev, but Putin himself. And then the pro-Russian lobbies in the West will start talking about the need for a ceasefire or peace negotiations.”
Why is Crimea so important when Russia has occupied the “Mariupol land bridge” between its territory and Crimea?
“Between Rostov, Mariupol and Crimea there are no railway lines, highways and, above all, warehouses that would be sufficient for an army of 500,000 soldiers. It is not enough to bring ammunition, they must have it available, they must organize rotations, training and treatment. They have been equipping Crimea for this for years. For the same reason, they used Belarus as a base at the beginning of the invasion. Only there were the right logistics available.”
In recent months, however, Moscow has turned Mariupol into a kind of military garrison.
“He filled it with soldiers, it’s an important strategic point in the Sea of Azov, but they couldn’t build enough bunkers, rails and depots for the entire front.”
French sources speak of Ukrainian drones using Sudanese government troops against rebels supported by Wagner’s Russian mercenaries.
“That is not true. For us the problem is obtaining weapons. We cannot afford to miss out on the drones we can make. However, there are Wagner troops in Sudan as well as in Mali and the Congo. And we are also interested in investigating Moscow’s activities in Africa.”
What did you understand?
“That there are remnants of Wagner, the mercenary company, but is that a long-term commitment?” It seems to us that Moscow is using marginal resources to provoke internal unrest in the region. The aim is to divert international attention from what he is doing in Ukraine.”