What can we expect from this new general Syrskyi who is commanding the troops of Ukraine, after the dismissal of Zalushny and his staff? Apparently he has promised Zelensky to prevent the collapse of Avdieevka, while most 'mappers', including seriously pro-Ukrainian 'mappers', concur that the former stronghold is about to be cut in half, meaning that the forces nearest to Donetsk are about to become trapped in a cauldron, cut off from supplies, with nowhere to go.
At the same time, there are suggestions that Ukraine is preparing to launch a counter offensive, meant to threaten the Russian supply lines from the North. Syrskyi is known for his cruelty, unable to order his troops to save themselves, always insisting that they fight till the last man standing. Ironically, Putin offered this little 'aside' in his interview with Carlson, about Ukrainians who refused to surrender while surrounded, because 'Russians don't surrender', trying to illustrate his point that most Ukrainians still see themselves as Russians, and not Ukrainians. He kind of casually added: 'Hence they all died'.
This really is the schizoid part of this entire war, since Syrskyi himself is Russian, his parents and brother live in Russia, and are avid supporters of Putin, and his oldest son from his first marriage is living in Australia, and says that his dad is 'Scum', while his youngest son doesn't even want to talk to him anymore. Apparently the general 'met' with a nice young lady while liaising with NATO, divorced his wife, and married his NATO girlfriend, never looking back as he was handed this golden opportunity to become a 'hot shot' in the service of NATO. Classic 'Honey trap'. So they have him by the balls, so to speak. Weird doesn't even begin to describe it.
He was the general which led the Ukrainians to defeat at Debaltseve in 2014/2015, as the Victoria Nuland controlled government in Kiev ordered the military to go to war with the 'rebels' in the Donbas. But since it was after Victoria Nuland's recent visit to Kiev that Zalushny was sacked, we must assume that the Americans running the show are confident that he will do better this time. Meanwhile, female protestors appeared on the Maidan to demand the return of Zalushny, who has close ties to the extreme right wing nationalists in politics as well as in the military, who do not trust the 'Russian' Syrskyi. The fanatic nationalists, originally organised in armed groups outside the military, but absorbed by the army after pressure from NATO, themselves responding to pressure by politicians who objected to arming terrorist-groups flying Nazi flags and proud of Nazi symbols, are important within the military forces.
Zalushny was accused of using 'his boys' sparingly, preferring the use of less motivated, and not really well trained soldiers as cannon fodder, only sending his 'elite' troops when defeat was looming. Syrskyi will not have such preferences, one must assume, and he is likely to use these fanatics to force a breakthrough of some kind, if he does see an opportunity. But will they be as loyal to Syrskyi as they were to Zalushny? We'll have to wait and see.
In addition to stop the advance of the Russians, knowing that when the thaw sets in, the mud will not support large scale offensives using tanks and artillery, Ukraine is engaging in 'Deep Strike' missile and drone attacks on Russian soil, using recently received weapons, with very limited success so far. On the down side for them, 'sources' in Ukraine are reporting that present Air Defence systems will be depleted by March. And so far the Russians are not running out of anything, least of all missiles and drones. If true, this will render it impossible for Ukraine to operate F-16's from bases inside Ukraine, as they are going to suffer from barrages of missile and drone strikes, knowing the F-16's need paved, clean and well maintained runways, with that low air-intake, narrow traction landing gear and comparatively small diameter tires. Operating them from NATO controlled bases outside Ukraine will definitely be seen as an act of war by NATO against Russia, and will have serious consequences, to say it politely. On 'X', there is no lack of uninformed people, and some blindsided military and 'Think-Tankers' too, who are clearly aiming for World War III.
Don't say that cooler heads will prevail, and that 'They' won't be this stupid. 'They' are stupid, missed one cue after the other that their intel sucked, so what are we going to do about it? I'm all ears. Many decades ago, there still was an 'anti-war movement'. Most of the people in that crowd are now demanding war, while the rest is not paying attention. Lost in their 'Game Shows', 'Talk Shows', and finding the best address for a 'Puppy-Yoga' session, or tuning in to what Taylor Swift is ordering them to do, they stumble from one mistake to the next one, grateful for 'guidance', so they do not have to make up their minds for themselves. Consumers United.