Ukraine is again the victim of a Russian attack on Monday, October 31 in the morning, targeted by around fifty missiles. These strikes, targeting energy facilities in several regions, are “diversion phenomena”analyzed Monday on franceinfo Pierre Servent, specialist in defense issues.
franceinfo: With these strikes, many neighborhoods find themselves without electricity. Are the Russians aiming to hit civilians?
Pierre Servent: These strikes have a psychological effect. Russia tries to weaken the morale of the population, likely to turn against the government. But I think that for the Russians, it’s a waste of time because there is a patriotic feeling, a very strong will to resist among the Ukrainians. The country will not give up. Some parts of Ukraine are already in extremely difficult conditions, without electricity, with water cuts, internet cuts. However, this did not prevent the Ukrainian army from reconquering the territory and undermining the Russian army.
Are other strikes to be expected?
Since the sinking of the Russian front at the beginning of September, we have witnessed a series of operations to try to divert attention. Thus, the Russian army hopes to hide its retreat. For example, there was blackmail at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, indirect threats about dirty bombs. There was also Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, which I think were destroyed by Russian services. By analyzing these eight months of war, we see that each time the Russian armies suffer setbacks, or scathing attacks, Putin puts in place measures of retaliation or punishment against Ukraine.
Despite the retreat of the Russian army, the strikes are increasing. Why ?
The further back power is, the more decoys it multiplies. There are not only artificial lures, they terrify by striking the territory. And they create diversionary phenomena so that we spend more time commenting on the fear that Moscow arouses than the reality on the ground which is very unfavorable to them. And then there is also a military objective. With these strikes, the Ukrainians are forced to hold on to a whole part of the territory, away from the front. Thus, Putin prevents kyiv from deploying its troops on the front line, in particular its anti-aircraft defense forces.