Ukraine must isolate Crimea and make it impossible for Russian forces to remain on the peninsula as part of the effort to liberate it.
This opinion was expressed in an interview with Ukrinform by retired U.S. Army General Ben Hodges, the former Commanding General of US Army Europe.
“This is going to be a little bit simplistic, but there is kind of the first phase or the first step to the liberation of Crimea – to isolate it. To cut that road that goes to Dzhankoi, to destroy the bridge… And then number two, is make it untenable, unusable for the Russians,” Hodges said.
He noted that Ukraine now has the capability to strike every square meter of Crimea with precision weapons capable of reaching anywhere on the peninsula and destroying airfields, the remnants of the Russian fleet, and logistics infrastructure.
According to Hodges, Ukraine should continue striking these targets so that Russian forces realize they cannot stay there and that Crimea no longer provides them with any military advantage.
