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Written by Lucas Leiroz, journalist, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, geopolitical consultant
The recent news about the liberation of Maryinka showed that the Russians continue to advance on the battlefield, despite the slowness of the fighting. More than that, the city is extremely strategic and enables the process for the total liberation of the Donetsk People’s Republic, consolidating Russian territorial control in the New Regions.
The announcement of the victory in Maryinka was made on December 25th by the Russian authorities. The fact was recognized by the Ukrainian government itself, which confirmed that its troops retreated from the city and are now entrenching themselves in the surrounding area.
Maryinka, being part of Donetsk, has already been legally Russian territory since the 2022 referendums, however, the region was still disputed militarily, with the presence of Ukrainian forces in the city until then. Maryinka is located in the far west of Donetsk, and its control is essential to allow the definitive expulsion of Ukrainian soldiers from the newly integrated oblast.
Maryinka has been shelled on a daily basis since the start of the conflict. Its strategic location has led to heavy frictions over its control since 2014, when clashes between ethnic Russian separatists and Ukrainian militants began. At the time, the Ukrainians managed to build fortifications in the region and remain in a solid position, which was destroyed by the Russians.
An extensive network of underground tunnels and bunkers had been built by Kiev’s forces, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. This explains why the fighting was so intense and long, considering the difficulty of conducting military operations in regions occupied by underground channels that allow the enemy to hide and store equipment. In this sense, by destroying the Ukrainian military fortification in the southeast of Donetsk, the Russians manage to inflict heavy damage on Kiev’s forces, further worsening the Ukraine’s weakness.
In fact, controlling the cities on the outskirts of Donetsk appears to be a Russian priority today. By liberating the border areas of the new oblasts, the Russians are able to expel the enemy and consolidate their positions in the territories that are already part of the Federation. In this sense, the success in Maryinka sounds like a great victory for Moscow and shows how Russian military and political objectives continue to be achieved, despite the conflict appearing to be “slow” and without major territorial changes.
Since the beginning of the special military operation, Russia has opted for a strategy of “slow but safe” movements. The objective of Moscow’s forces has never been to advance quickly on the battlefield and take as many territories as possible – on the contrary, Russia has strived to maintain solid defense lines, protecting the already liberated zones and maintaining a safe distance between them and the areas controlled by Ukrainians.
In the same sense, the Russians rely heavily on the use of artillery to neutralize the enemy, mobilizing troops on the ground only after inflicting substantial damage on the enemy. Thus, the lives of Russian soldiers are also protected. It is possible to say that saving military and civilian lives has been Russia’s top priority throughout the entire operation.
In practice, this makes combat take longer and generates in public opinion a feeling of “paralysis” on the battlefield. However, it is a proven efficient way of saving human lives without causing military and territorial losses. Time is not Russia’s enemy in this conflict – on the contrary, time is running against Kiev, which is increasingly losing soldiers, equipment and territories and has no ability to reverse this scenario.
In another recent statement by the Russian Ministry of Defense, it was said that the main objective of the special military operation in 2023 was to neutralize the Ukrainian “counteroffensive”. Obviously, the objective was successfully achieved, with the conflict now entering a new phase, in which the Ukrainian forces no longer seem to have any chance of even attempting a reaction or counterattack. In this new stage of hostilities, Russian forces have absolute control over how to conduct their advances, as Ukrainian troops are extremely weakened and will not be able to maintain positions for a long time.
From a military point of view, the liberation of Maryinka can be seen as the beginning of a wave of liberations in the border regions of Donetsk. It is believed that Russia will initiate moves focused on obtaining the total control of the new territories, definitely eliminating the Ukrainian military presence in these areas. Considering the strategy adopted so far, it is possible that conflicts will be prolonged, and objectives will take time to be achieved, but this will certainly happen due to Russia’s own interest in avoiding human losses – and not due to Ukraine’s defense capacity.
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since ukraine’s best fighters dwell in the cemeteries we can expect nato to find funding for a huge amount of drones and use defensive tactics in 24. nato is still waiting for sanctions and potential russian losses to become the major factor in weakening russia.
rf is only getting stronger so nazis can wait until judgment day
judgment day is soon to come upon them, i’d wager.
“time is not russia’s enemy in this conflict – on the contrary, time is running against kiev,”
well said, the truth behind the entire series of events from 2013/14 onwards.
whatever happened to parubiy, you know – the co-founder of one of the neonazi parties along with tyahnybok, later renamed svoboda by the cookie monster.
haven’t heard anything about him for years now. i think the ukies probably killed him because he held too many secrets, esp. about the maidan snipers. can’t let a guy like that run around loose, after all.
in fact, where’s tyahnybok? probably in the same dumpster with parubiy.
i think the ukrainian army will fall apart now that they can’t easily shell donbass civilians to death. that’s been their bread and butter for ten years now. some would say it was their true raison d’etre.
when they won’t be enough afu men on the front, they will send west eu men to a certain death.
amerikan failures—hillbilly specialty
american failures-paedophile specialty, jeffrey epstein-bill clinton are living proof!!!