Russia continues its strategic offensive; it is still too early to talk about a turning point in the war — Vladyslav Selezniov
The situation on the front remains difficult, and there are currently no grounds to speak of a turning point in the war or an imminent end to active combat. The greatest concern is the area around Kostiantynivka, where further russian advances could pose a serious threat to Ukraine's defense of the entire Donetsk oblast "fortress belt". Military expert and former spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Vladyslav Selezniov, said this in an interview with OstroV.
"The situation remains difficult. We should not indulge in illusions. Yes, we have achieved some tactical successes, and in some places we have even regained certain territories, but these are only tactical episodes. It is premature to speak of a turning point or an overall change in the situation because the enemy continues its strategic offensive operation and, despite difficulties, is still achieving certain results", - Selezniov said.
The expert believes the most dangerous situation has now developed in the Kostiantynivka sector.
"First and foremost, this concerns the area around Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk oblast. A continuous gray zone has effectively formed there, and the situation is extremely dangerous", - he said.
According to Selezniov, further advances by the russian army in this sector could jeopardize the Ukrainian grouping defending Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Druzhkivka.
"I am deeply concerned about developments in this direction because if the enemy advances further, it could create serious problems for our grouping defending the so-called 'fortress belt', which includes Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Druzhkivka", - the expert explained.
At the same time, he pointed out that the situation remains difficult in other sectors of the front as well.
"The situation in the Sloviansk sector also remains extremely difficult. There, the enemy is advancing slowly but steadily despite fierce resistance from the Ukrainian army", - Selezniov noted.
In addition, he said the situation remains challenging in the suburbs of Kupiansk.
"There are pockets of russian presence directly inside the city, and this must be acknowledged openly", - the expert said.
He also described the situation in the Vovchansk sector as highly tense, where russian forces hold an advantage due to the proximity of their logistics.
"The enemy is operating very actively there. Thanks to the proximity of its logistical routes, it can quickly replenish personnel, ammunition, and equipment. That is why it is extremely difficult for our troops there", - Seleznev noted.
In his assessment, the entire Ukrainian border area remains a high-risk zone, where the russian army is constantly testing Ukraine's defenses.
At the same time, the expert sees no prerequisites for the active phase of the war ending anytime soon.
"I see no grounds for that. All of the top military and political leadership of the russian federation continues to insist that the so-called 'special military operation' must end only after achieving all the objectives they set at the beginning of the war", - he stressed.
Despite the difficult situation, the expert urged against drawing catastrophic conclusions.
"The situation remains difficult. At the same time, this is not a 'bottomless pit' — the situation remains under control", - Selezniov concluded.