According to the Sunday Express, the Ukrainian commando unit will spearhead the operation, while two other Ukrainian units will participate in parallel attacks. The operation is set to employ a combination of land, air, and sea strikes aimed at weakening the Russian forces.
In addition to infantry, armored units will also play a pivotal role in the Ukrainian attack on Crimea. To bolster the offensive, long-range missiles from Britain, the United States, and Germany will provide support through targeted shelling, as revealed by the Sunday Express.
The training of the Ukrainian commandos is currently underway at a secluded camp in Devon, Southwest England, which has been closed off to outsiders and other units. The British Marines are leading the training, which includes rigorous exercises involving long marches followed by live ammunition night attacks.
A senior British military officer, speaking to the Sunday Express, highlighted the emphasis on teaching NATO tactics to Ukrainian troops, enabling them to "shape the battle space" and effectively strike at the heart of the enemy.
"The operation to retake Crimea will involve multiple assaults on Russian forces; while we can train them in our tactics and demonstrate the use of equipment, ultimate success will depend on the Ukrainians' ability to adapt quickly and overcome challenges," he stressed.
Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov was quoted by Ukrainian portal TSN on Saturday, stating that Ukrainian forces would enter Crimea "soon." British Defense Minister Ben Wallace, in an interview with the Washington Post published in early June, asserted that there was a realistic chance of Ukraine retaking Crimea later this year, pointing to the potential depletion of Russian troops' equipment.
However, experts remain cautious about the prospect of a swift recapture of Crimea. Keir Giles, an expert at the Chatham House think tank, commented that a rapid takeover is unlikely unless Russian forces experience a complete collapse. Instead, he suggested that continuous attacks on the Crimea Bridge, coupled with efforts to block supply routes, could eventually undermine Russian control over the region.
(jh)
Source: PAP, Sunday Express