29 March 2024, Friday, 7:54
Support
the website
Sim Sim,
Charter 97!
Categories

Oleh Belokolos: Fall Of Lukashenka Regime Is On Agenda Today

17
Oleh Belokolos: Fall Of Lukashenka Regime Is On Agenda Today
OLEH BELOKOLOS
PHOTO: UKRINFORM

The dictatorial format of Belarus does not satisfy too many.

Oleh Belokolos, an expert on foreign and security policy of the Maidan of Foreign Affairs organization, ex-adviser of the Ukrainian Embassy to Canada and Kenya, commented to the Charter97.org website on the successes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the south of the country and military developments on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.

— Recently, the Ukrainian army liberated Velikopillya and Olhine and three more settlements in the southern axis. What is your assessment of the success of the offensive against Kherson? What is the probability of blockade and liquidation of the Kherson bridgehead of the enemy?

— Like all Ukrainians, I watch with enthusiasm the advance of our troops. This is also the result of the help that our friends and allies provide us. However, it is better to clarify some specific points with the military.

— Polish and US analysts, as well as British intelligence, hinted a few days ago that the Kherson offensive operation may not be the only and not even the main one in the general counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Yesterday, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with ABC TV channel, said that the Ukrainian army launched an offensive in several directions at once and “surprises” awaited the enemy. What are these "surprises"?

— The command of our troops makes some statements. First of all, it works in terms of information, making the enemy nervous, dispersing forces in what they think are likely axes. That is, this is some kind of informational preparation for the next stage of our advancement, the liberation of the South and other temporarily occupied territories. Such preparation forces the enemy to perform certain actions, including disorienting him.

— Recently, shelling of the Sumy and Chernihiv regions of Ukraine has become more frequent. Recently, a large convoy of troops with howitzers and S-300 systems was observed moving towards the Ukrainian border in the Brest region of Belarus. Can some kind of provocation or even a large-scale offensive from Belarusian territory be prepared?

— It is unlikely that the Russian army today has the resources to carry out some kind of large-scale offensive on the territory of Ukraine from these axes. Today there are problems with the personnel of the Russian army, they are forced to recruit prisoners in order to recover the losses. Also, the quality of these so-called recruits will be appropriate. Therefore, the Russian army is rather faced with the task of holding on to what it managed to capture. Perhaps we are talking about some diversionary manoeuvres in these areas, but I do not see the forces and means there for waging a large-scale offensive.

— Military expert Oleh Zhdanov drew attention to the "exercises" of the Russian troops in Belarus from September 8 to 14 within the framework of the CSTO. In his opinion, during this period, a provocation may take place in order to reduce the intensity of the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kherson and other axes. Do you think that Putin and Lukashenka will somehow be able to let off steam from the "Kherson Cauldron"?

— We cannot, of course, exclude anything. I'm sure all this activity is being monitored. In military-political terms, Belarus and Russia are now a single space, we do not separate them from each other. A certain number of our troops are in the northern axis. This is an opportunity for a threat that is taking place. Therefore, we cannot rule out some possible actions to divert our attention from other tasks.

— Recently, Deputy Commander of the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment Vadzim Kabanchuk said that the liberation of his country from the Lukashenka regime is a priority goal for Belarusian volunteers, based on which they make many decisions. What awaits Lukashenka if he nevertheless decides to expand the format of participation of forces under his control in the war against Ukraine?

— Today, the expansion or narrowing of the format does not play any role. We unequivocally perceive this regime as an enemy. We are talking about today's priorities of Ukraine. We are very grateful to those Belarusians who are fighting for Ukraine, including for Belarus. We are well aware that our northern neighbour will exist as an adversary as long as the Lukashenko regime exists there.

Of course, it won't leave by itself. Now the country exists in a blockade regime and under the pressure of sanctions. I am sure that this format does not suit many people in Belarus. It is necessary to make efforts to overthrow the regime and enable Belarus to develop democracy, economy and personal freedoms. We see this, and I think that this issue is on the agenda.

Write your comment 17

Follow Charter97.org social media accounts