Naseebullah Khan
Is Russian invasion of Ukraine was a strategic mistake? Has Russia trapped or getting its goals? Are the EU and the US pilicies and provision of military equipment to Ukraine behind the curtain pushing Russia to humiliation? The Russian invasion of Ukraine started on February 24, 2022. Russian thought it can occupy big cities in days compelling Ukranian president Volodymyr Zelensky to surrender and subjugate Ukraine within a week and instal its own puppet government but, the tough resistance of the common Ukrainians and Ukrainian forces has scattered Russian dream. Aljazeera writes by quoting the former Russian Deputy Foreign minister Federov in its February 27 publication that Putin plans full victory by March 2. Although, Russian has some territorial gains in southern Ukraine but Ukrainian forces have repulsed Russian attack admirably in its North and northwest. Russian plan A to occupy Capital city in days has failed and now plan B is on the stage to focus on Eastern Ukraine. Moreover, the Russian convey of 25 kilometers that planned to lay siege of Kyiv for days and occupy capital even bore no fruit further reflecs the vulnerability of Russian Army. Russia has mercilessly bombarded civillian population such as in Kharkiv and Miriupil so that to force local officials and Mayors to surrender as it did in Chechnya and Syria to creat fear but this tact has also been failed. Along with hundreds of army personals Russian senior general Lt Gen Yakov Rezantsev was also killed in the war as BBC wrote that he was the seventh Russian general to die in Ukraine. Whereas, huge loss of Russian Warships and tanks demonstrate that Russians had guessed Ukrainians wrong. The NATO and the US support to Ukraine have played tremendous role in pushing back the Russian forces.Along with America and Europe Union, Czech republic has sent Tanks to Ukraine. The provision of Uk armed vehicles and anti tank missiles to Ukrain have paralysed Russian military advancement while, the provision of Slovakian S_300 anti aircraft system to Ukraine has further given fresh air to Ukrainian defense. Before, the invasion, Russia had still good relations with the west and America. Its economy was functioning well and trade was flourishing. After the invasion, Russian has been facing sanctions, freezing of accounts and ban on Gas export to some European countries that have deteriorated Russian economy. Prior to the invasion, Ukraine was almost nonaligned and NATO had no intention to expend but the Russian fear of expansionism has compelled Finland, Sweedon, and Ukraine to join NATO sooner or latter. Presently, Russian aims have scattered.Its army has not performed well to force Ukraine,s capitulation and it is far away from toppling Ukrainian government.At present it looks like that Russian has failed achieving its objectives, to topple government and install own puppet government, subjugate Ukrains, and enhance its power there.During the initial stages of war, Russia had threatened of Nuclear war but now, while observing its militariy humilation, they have changed their stance. On April 25, Russian foreign minister Seregai Lavrov said that Russia seeks to reduce the threat of Nuclear war. These developments reflect that Russia has stucked and had has made a huge strategic blunder of invading Ukraine. This statement gesticulates that Russia is at present in a mood of face saving exit which it had denied at the start of the invasion. It is owing to thw reality that at one side, the people and militariy of Ukraine have been exceptional in defending their motherland while, on the other side, the military cooperation of Europe and USA and imposing economic sanctions on Russia proved to be fatal for Russian economy and its military humiliation. While writing this piece, Russian invasion of Ukraine has failed to get the required aims which Putin had in mind. Neither Ukrain has been occupied which Russian military thinking of occupying in week nor tactics like bombardment on public place have created fears among the Ukrainians. The military support of Europe and America along with slapping sanctions on Russia have played critical role in trapping Russia in Ukrain.
