If strikes on Russian targets did not yield results, Moscow wouldn’t be pushing for moratorium, - former NATO Commander Clark
Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territory are very sensitive for the Kremlin, which is why Moscow insists on a moratorium on such attacks.
According to Censor.NET, this was stated by the former commander of NATO's Allied Forces, Wesley Clark, in a commentary to Espresso.
"It is obvious that strikes on Russia's energy infrastructure are causing Russia significant damage. If this were not the case, Moscow would not have insisted on a moratorium on such attacks. These strikes limit Russia's ability to generate revenue and are therefore of strategic importance, even if their impact on the battlefield is not immediate. Ukrainian commanders need to take these factors into account and prioritize them appropriately. Obviously, strikes deep into Russia's territory have forced it to make a demand: "Don't strike our energy infrastructure," Clark explained.
The general noted that strikes deep into Russian territory create diplomatic pressure on the Kremlin and produce certain results. However, the main question is what exactly Russia is willing to do in exchange for such an agreement
"The question is what exactly Russia is willing to do in exchange for such an agreement. So far, none of these agreements have come into effect, as every time a commercial or diplomatic framework is discussed, Russia puts forward new demands, trying to get additional concessions. However, it seems that the long-range strikes are creating diplomatic pressure and are having some results," he added.
According to Clarke, the war of attrition is now underway. Therefore, it is likely that the Ukrainian command could consider strikes on operational targets located directly near the front line that affect the course of hostilities.
"The key question is the effective balance: wouldn't it be more appropriate to focus on operationally important targets? For example, strikes on ammunition depots demonstrate their effectiveness - they are achievable and produce a concrete result. However, everything about positional warfare essentially boils down to a struggle of attrition. In maneuver warfare, the goal is to concentrate attacks on specific areas, opening the way for mobile forces to achieve a decisive result through speed and flexibility. In the current situation, Ukraine is mainly engaged in positional defense. In such a situation, the main tasks on the battlefield are to prevent the concentration of enemy forces and disrupt attempts to change the nature of hostilities. This is achieved by undermining the enemy's ability to sustain the war - through attacks on fuel and ammunition stocks, troop concentrations and other critical logistics facilities," the general summarized.
