Kyiv: Four months of brutal fighting in Ukraine appear to be straining the morale of troops on both sides, prompting desertions and rebellion against officers’ orders, British defence officials said on Sunday even as NATO chief warned the war could “drag on for years”.
In an interview, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, “Nobody knows how long the war could last. We need to be prepared for it to last for years.” He urged allies “not to weaken support for Ukraine, even if the costs are high, not only in terms of military aid, but also because of the increase in the prices of energy and goods”. In recent days, Gazprom, the Russian gas company, has reduced supplies to two major European clients — Germany and Italy.
Stoltenberg stressed the costs of food and fuel were nothing compared with those paid daily by the Ukrainians on the frontline. He said, “What’s more, if Russian President Vladimir Putin should reach his objectives in Ukraine, like when he annexed Crimea in 2014, we will have to pay an even greater price.”
In its daily assessment of the war, Britain’s Defence Ministry said, “Combat units from both sides are committed to intense combat in the Donbas and are likely experiencing variable morale.”
“Ukrainian forces have likely suffered desertions in recent weeks, but Russian morale highly likely remains especially troubled. Cases of whole Russian units refusing orders and armed stand-offs between officers and their troops continue to occur,” it said. Separately, the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate released what it said were intercepted phone calls in which Russian soldiers complained about frontline conditions, poor equipment, and overall lack of personnel, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a trip south from Kyiv to visit troops and hospital workers in the Mykolaiv and Odesa regions along the Black Sea on Saturday. He handed out awards to dozens of people at every stop, shaking their hands and thanking for their service. — AP
UK offers to train ukrainian forces
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who visited Kyiv on Friday, offered to train Ukrainian forces. He said it was important Britain provided support for the long haul, warning of a risk of “Ukraine fatigue” as the war drags on.
Russian troops to target Kharkiv again
The situation north of Kharkiv is quite difficult as Russian forces have been trying to get closer to shell the city again, an official at Ukraine’s interior ministry said. “Russia is trying to make Kharkiv a frontline city,” he added.