Vladimir Putin’s “objective” is to exhaust Ukraine’s stocks and make it “capitulate”, according to General Jérôme Pellistrandi

“The objective” of Vladimir Putin, “it’s to exhaust stocks” of Ukraine and make it “capitulate”, summarizes Tuesday January 2 on franceinfo General Jérôme Pellistrandi. In recent days, Russian strikes have intensified on Ukraine, including numerous missiles fired at kyiv and other cities on Tuesday morning.

In general, this reflects the beginning “a new phase, after weeks where not much was happening”. He mentions in particular the “Ukrainian counter-offensive started last summer”which does not have “did not achieve the expected results, and therefore there was a form of status quo on the land front line”. According to Jérôme Pellistrandi, “Moscow adopts a new strategy with its bombings across the entire territory”. A situation “worrisome”according to him.

Beyond Vladimir Putin’s goal of “break the morale of the Ukrainian population”Jérôme Pellistrandi affirms that the Russian president seeks to “the Ukrainians spend as much as possible on anti-aircraft missiles supplied by the West” and to “saturate Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses”. “Every time there are these air campaigns, the defense reacts”notes the general.

If the general recognizes that certain Russian missiles, “mainly Iranian made”are “relatively easy” to destroy, there are also “hypersonic missiles […] very difficult to intercept”. Jérôme Pellistrandi also emphasizes that “Moscow has been able to replenish its stocks since last winter”which now has “around 800” of these missiles that fly “very quickly” and that “are difficult to intercept”. These latter are those who “cause the main damage”like what he “happened on Tuesday morning in the city of kyiv”, explains the general. However, “the year 2024 should see the arrival of the first F-16 combat aircraft supplied by allied countries”he recalls, “but it is clear that for Ukraine, we must hold out over the long term”.