Ukraine rules out that it will make any territorial concessions to Russia in Crimea.

If, during the spring-summer offensive, Ukraine succeeds in cutting off Russia’s land “corridor” to Crimea, this will be a guarantee of the beginning of the liberation of the peninsula, said the ex-head of the CIA, the commander of the American group in Iran, General David Petraeus.

In his opinion, Ukraine will not give up Crimea after such sacrifices.

“If they (the Ukrainians – ) can, then in the spring-summer offensive of this year they will break the land connection that Russia has, the so-called land corridor that Russia has established and leads from Russia to Ukraine. Thus, they (the Ukrainians – ) ) block it. Then Russia depends on the bridge over the Kerch Strait to supply Crimea. If you could demolish it again, and then make him (the enemy – ) rely on ferries, and then if you could start knocking them out – that’s very, very complex actions and operations,” Petraeus shared.

He noted that Ukrainians showed incredible ingenuity, initiative, and skill.

“If they (Ukrainians – ) can completely isolate Crimea and if they have high-precision ammunition with a longer range, they will be able to start shelling the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet, various air bases, various seaports, etc. It is again incredible that it is possible to have enough to isolate him (Crimea – ),” Petraeus added.

Everything will depend on the ability to accumulate additional forces and capabilities in the next few months.

“And then it all depends on the decisions that I’m sure are being discussed in Western capitals, and especially in Washington, when it comes to the additional capabilities that I’ve described. I would also add advanced drones here because they could be incredibly important. , as you well know, for reconnaissance capabilities, surveillance capabilities, and maybe first strike capabilities if you include that as well, so it’s kind of thinking about both the end game and how Crimea can or can’t fit into it,” said the former head of the CIA.

The occupation of Crimea – how Ukraine will return the peninsula

Russia seized Crimea in 2014, and since then Moscow has turned the Ukrainian peninsula into a solid military base.

On February 24, 2022, Russian troops transferred to Crimea took part in the offensive on the mainland south of Ukraine. And the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation regularly hits Ukrainian cities with missiles. Intelligence continues to record the replenishment of the enemy’s Crimean group.

After the capture of Melitopol and Mariupol, the enemy managed to lay the so-called “land” corridor to the peninsula, becoming less dependent on the capabilities of the Kerch Bridge, which was already subject to unknown attacks.

Ukraine rules out that it will make any territorial concessions to Russia in Crimea, as the peninsula is a convenient springboard for future waves of Russian aggression. According to the head of military intelligence, Kyril Budanov, Ukraine will return Crimea by a combined means – both force and diplomacy.