[The Epoch Times, March 04, 2022](The Epoch Times reporter Takasugi compiled a report) According to the news released by the British Ministry of Defense on Thursday (March 3), Russia’s huge 40-mile (about 64 kilometers) long military The convoy, after arriving near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, has not moved forward for three consecutive days.
But U.S. defense officials say Moscow has no plans to give up occupying Kyiv — a city of 3 million people — and would resort to siege tactics if necessary.
Recent satellite images have shown the size of the Russian military column and raised fears of an imminent attack. British and U.S. officials said logistical difficulties could slow the process.
The UK Ministry of Defence said in an update on Thursday morning that the column was now more than 30 kilometers from Kyiv but “has hardly made any noticeable advance in more than three days” .
Why did the column of Russian military vehicles stop?
There are several reasons why the massive military column, including armoured vehicles, tanks and towed artillery, has halted its assault on the Ukrainian capital. These reasons may include logistical problems, unexpected resistance from Ukraine, and low morale in the Russian army.
On the logistical front, mechanical failures in military equipment, as well as congestion, are making it difficult to move forward, the British government said. It is reported that there is also a shortage of food and fuel supplies for Russian troops. In addition, there are reports. Poor quality tires and poorly maintained vehicles may also be among the difficulties.
General Richard Barrons, former commander of the British Joint Forces Command, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The (Russian military) has a presence in the supply of fuel, food, spare parts and tyres. Massive logistical blunders…they got stuck in the mud and it was hard to get the vehicle out.”
However, he said command and control issues – such as radio network failures and open network communications – are also likely to be causing bigger problems.
The Pentagon also pointed out that the Russians have logistical problems and have decided to redeploy, reassessing “the progress they have yet to make, and how to make up for lost time.”
The Pentagon also said that stubborn resistance from Ukraine is also considered to be the reason for hindering the continued advance of Russian troops. The Pentagon noted, however, that it could not independently verify the claim.
Stronger-than-expected resistance from the Ukrainian side may also have affected the morale of the Russian army, another reason for the lack of action by its troops.
“The morale of the (Russian) convoy is going down every day,” Oleksandr Danylyuk, the former secretary-general of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, told the BBC. He said the situation was not related to the Ukrainian military. The strong will to defend the capital is in stark contrast.
On Tuesday (March 1), a U.S. Defense Department official told reporters that there were signs of morale problems in the Russian military, which utilizes a large number of new recruits.
“Not all of them even knew that they would be sent on combat missions,” the official said.
Will the Russian convoy be destroyed?
Ukraine does have some air strikes and has been using powerful, Turkish-made drones to destroy Russian convoys elsewhere. But according to General Barrons, Kyiv simply did not have enough air power to destroy such a large column of Russian troops.
“They’re good at attacking convoys from the front and the flank,” but the damage from the air was limited, he said.
Barrons added that the Russian military would also deploy air defenses around the convoy to shoot down incoming Ukrainian fighter jets. Therefore, an air strike on the convoy would put the Ukrainian side at risk of losing more of its already limited air force.
Some critics have suggested that NATO should consider destroying the Russian military convoy. But such an action would be a major escalation and could spark a war between the two nuclear powers.
Western governments have repeatedly said they have no intention of being directly involved in the conflict.
What will the Russian convoy do next?
Despite all the problems listed above, the fact remains that a large column of the Russian military is trooping up just north of Kiev and could move on at any moment.
Lord Dannatt, a former British army commander, told the BBC: “This huge column of Russian troops … will surround and attack the Ukrainian capital.” He added that the Russian army would occupy Kyiv street by street and cause great damage.
General Barrons also said that the convoy still has a strong military offensive capability and may cause huge damage to Kyiv.
He said the convoy was likely to turn into a force of artillery and infantry to encircle Kyiv.
By then, Moscow will have two options, he said. Either besiege and not attack and issue an ultimatum to Kyiv “must surrender”; or admit that the city will not give in and storm the city, as it did in Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv.
Now, the people of Kyiv can only watch and wait, watching how the Russian column will act next.
Responsible editor: Ye Ziwei#