Ukraine Could Launch Major Attack on Crimea Before Winter: Analyst

Michael Clarke, a military analyst at Sky News and a professor, has stated that Ukraine could launch a large-scale attack on Crimea before winter. Clarke noted that Ukraine has recently been actively targeting radar stations and air defense facilities, especially in Crimea. This, according to him, could be preparation for a larger-scale military operation.

"The Ukrainians like to deliver surprises. They know it affects not only the Russians on the front line, but also the West's perception of Ukraine's progress," Clarke notes, emphasizing Ukraine's tactical approach. This approach shows Kyiv's desire not only to achieve military success, but also to maintain the support and trust of the international community, particularly the West, by demonstrating its capabilities on the battlefield.

According to the analyst, it could be a "certain major strike on Crimea," which could manifest in the form of an air attack or a landing operation. The main goal of such actions would be to destabilize Russian forces on the peninsula. Crimea is of strategic importance to Russia, and any serious attack on it would have a significant psychological and military impact.

Clarke explains the possible tactics of the attack, noting: "You can create a breach in the air defense shield, and then use that breach to hit a more valuable target." This implies that Ukraine is preemptively weakening Russian air defense systems to pave the way for larger strikes. Such tactics would allow the effective use of long-range missiles or unmanned aerial vehicles to hit important military facilities deep in the peninsula, which would otherwise be well protected.

Possible attacks on Crimea could also affect Russia's control over the Black Sea, creating new challenges for the Russian fleet and opening up possibilities for humanitarian corridors or trade routes for Ukraine. If Ukraine succeeds in delivering significant strikes, it will strengthen its positions on both the military and diplomatic fronts.

Given Ukraine's past "surprises" and their impact on the course of the conflict, Michael Clarke's predictions deserve serious attention. A number of experts agree that as winter approaches, military operations in the direction of Crimea could indeed intensify.