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Retired Ukrainian colonel foresees intense summer battles with strategic implications

Oleg Starikov noted that the Ukrainian General Staff has a quandary on its hands, as if it takes a defensive posture it will lose more territories, while an ill-considered offensive may open the door for a Russian breakthrough

MOSCOW, April 3. /TASS/. The summer season in Ukraine will bring with it intense fighting and huge strategic implications, a retired colonel of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said.

"As for the summer campaign, we expect very serious fighting, which in principle will resolve already operational and strategic issues," Oleg Starikov said in an interview with journalist Alexander Shelest (designated as a foreign agent).

Starikov added that the Ukrainian General Staff has a quandary on its hands, as if it takes a defensive posture it will lose more territories, while an ill-considered offensive may open the door for a Russian breakthrough.

Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that since January 2024, Ukraine’s military had lost more than 80,000 troops and 14,000 pieces of equipment, including over 1,200 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles. In addition, Russian forces have taken control of 403,000 square kilometers of land since the beginning of the year, he said.

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