The Russian Ministry of Defense's statements about an alleged offensive in the Dnipropetrovsk region have not military, but political significance. Moscow is forced to raise the stakes. It is important for the Kremlin to create the impression of fulfilling the "goals of the special operation" and to strengthen its positions in negotiations. This was stated in an interview with "RadioSvoboda" by former Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov, as reported by UNN.
Details
When asked what the Russian Ministry of Defense's reports about an alleged offensive by Russian troops in the Dnipropetrovsk region indicate, Reznikov replied: "Certainly, an increase in stakes, because they understand, I think, that they need to get out of this war. Primarily for economic reasons."
According to him, the economic and financial situation in Russia is very difficult. As official statements by the head of the Russian Central Bank regarding the need to raise the key rate again show, things with finances and the economy are bad.
Their point of no return has either already been passed, or they will soon need to exit the military economy. It is very difficult: entering is elementary, exiting is very difficult. They will then consume those consequences for decades. Exiting the war is in their interest
The former Minister of Defense of Ukraine added that the Russians, of course, "will never publicly admit this, but they need, firstly, to strengthen their position in negotiations as much as possible, so that they can then concede something."
And secondly, according to Reznikov, Russia needs to convey to its population that the goals of the "SMO" have allegedly been achieved.
This is not a military, but a political and political-information task
Context
Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian president, as reported by Russian media, claimed that an alleged Russian offensive was underway in the Dnipropetrovsk region, specifically within the framework of creating a buffer zone in Ukraine.
On June 8, the Russian Ministry of Defense also claimed that the occupiers were allegedly advancing into the territory of Dnipropetrovsk region.
The Institute for the Study of War noted that no geolocated evidence of these claimed advances near the border of the Dnipropetrovsk region was found.