One of the tasks of the Ukrainian defenders is to gain time and prepare forces for future counter-offensive operations, the lieutenant general noted.

Russian occupation forces do not stop storming the positions of the Ukrainian military. Weather conditions also influence the situation, says retired lieutenant general and military expert Igor Romanenko.

On Channel 24, he added that Ukrainian troops are carrying out the tasks of a strategic defensive operation and are using reserves to stop the advance of Russian invaders along the entire front line.

“From the north of the Kharkov region to the Kherson direction, where the enemy in all these segments is locally at the tactical level, but is moving forward. Therefore, those small reserves that we are talking about are used to complete this first task of the strategic defensive operation,” – said the expert.

At the same time, Romanenko added that during such operations, the Ukrainian military eliminates as much equipment and manpower of the Russian occupation forces as possible. In addition, there is another task, which is to gain time and prepare forces for future counter-offensive operations, the lieutenant general noted.

“But we still have to get to this point, because there are not enough forces to stop the enemy’s advance, and this is the fulfillment of the first task in a strategic defensive operation,” stated Igor Romanenko.

War in Ukraine: important news

During the day, January 20, more than 70 military clashes took place at the front, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported. It is noted that more than 20 attacks were repelled in the Kupyansk direction. In addition, the occupiers do not abandon their intention to dislodge Ukrainian units from their bridgeheads on the Left Bank of the Dnieper.

Meanwhile, over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian aviation has struck six areas where personnel, weapons and military equipment are concentrated, an anti-aircraft missile system, an ammunition depot and a communications center for the invaders. The missilemen worked on concentrations of military equipment and personnel of the occupiers, as well as other targets.