Russia shifts to 'Gamasot Tactics' in Ukraine Donbas Offensive... Domino Collapse Imminent

Fall of Donbas Strategic Point Severodonetsk Imminent
Russian Forces Tighten Encirclement... Control 80% of Donbas

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As Russia's offensive on Ukraine's Donbas region intensifies, Severodonetsk, a key stronghold of the Ukrainian military, is on the brink of falling. The Russian forces are known to have employed a so-called 'cauldron' tactic, establishing encirclements around major cities without significantly expanding the front lines. There are concerns that after the fall of Severodonetsk, major cities within Donbas will collapse one after another.

According to AFP on the 31st (local time), Serhiy Haidai, governor of Ukraine's Luhansk province, stated in a video released that day, "Unfortunately, Russian forces have taken control of most of the city," adding, "More than 90% of the city has been destroyed, and over half of the city is already occupied by Russian forces."

Severodonetsk serves as a supply hub for the Ukrainian forces defending Donbas and currently functions as the central city of the Donetsk region. Military supplies supported by the West, including the United States, are reportedly distributed to the Donbas defense units through this location. Therefore, if Russia captures this city, it is feared that most of the defensive lines in the Donbas region will collapse.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Until now, analyses suggested that the Russian military, suffering over 30,000 casualties and a significant drop in morale, was unable to expand the front lines. However, apart from this, it is known that Russian tactics have also changed considerably. Learning from early defeats caused by rapid and extensive front line expansions, they are now pursuing a gradual expansion of the front lines.

The British Guardian, citing military experts, analyzed, "Based on experiences from tactical failures early in the war, Russian forces are focusing on the cauldron tactic, densely establishing small-scale encirclements around major cities," adding, "They avoid direct confrontations with the defenders in the encircled key areas, instead breaking morale through airstrikes and exhausting their forces."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Nick Reynolds, a war expert at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a British think tank, told the Guardian in an interview, "Russian forces are gradually readjusting their overall operations, and their operational goals are being developed more precisely," adding, "Although ground troops are not yet fully mobilized, the West should not underestimate them excessively."

Ukrainian military authorities already report that Russian forces have taken control of or encircled over 80% of the Donbas region and its major cities. There are concerns that if surrounding cities fall one after another following the fall of Severodonetsk, cities near Kyiv could once again face military threats.