Ukraine Podcast: Russia wants to wear Ukraine down in the winter

Podcast “Ukraine – the situation”
Wait until the temperatures fall further: Russia wants to wear Ukraine down in the winter, warns Mölling

Russia could again target Ukrainian energy supplies. Security expert Christian Mölling believes that Russia has held back fighter jets specifically for this purpose. And an end to the war is far from being in sight.

Security expert Christian Mölling expects a new wave of terrorist attacks against the Ukrainian civilian population. “It can be assumed that we are not yet at the peak of the attacks,” he said on Friday star-Podcast “Ukraine – the situation”. “At the moment the Russians seem to want to spy on where the anti-aircraft defense is stationed.” The research director of the German Council on Foreign Relations viewed this approach as preparation for even more intensive attacks. He expects this as soon as the temperatures continue to fall.

Mölling said: “If you shoot up the heating system now, it won’t have the terror effect that you actually want to achieve.” According to him, Russian commanders want to seize the moment when the greatest impact can be achieved. Russia has apparently held back cruise missiles in recent weeks in order to “fly this wave of attacks” at a later date. Ultimately, the population should be worn down by destroying energy and heat supplies. Mölling assumed that Russia’s attacks could have more impact than last year. “Last winter the infrastructure was a little better,” he said.

Russia will not let up until its goals are achieved

He saw no prospect of a quick cessation of the fighting. The Russian side has made it very clear that it currently sees no reason to start negotiations or slow down the war. He accused the Russian leadership of not caring whether its own soldiers suffered and died. The standards of humanity would have lost all meaning. President Vladimir Putin is concerned with creating a new world order.

The Moscow leadership is sending a clear message that it is not ready for a solution in which it does not receive the areas it claims – and only partially controls. This means for Ukraine that, despite all the exhaustion and the adverse weather conditions, they only have one choice: “Give up or keep fighting.” But giving up means that not only territory has to be given up, but also the people living there. “Who wants to take responsibility for this?” asked the expert.

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