"Victory Marshal" Changes the Special Military Operation: Targeting Decision-Making Centers and Transportation Hubs

“Victory Marshal” Changes the Special Military Operation: Targeting Decision Centers and Transportation Hubs “Apocalypse General” Is Just a “Small Fish Compared to a Big One” for Zelensky

Russia is now launching attacks on truly sensitive targets that can inflict pain, showing a significant strategic shift. In the largest offensive since the conflict began, Russian forces deployed an unprecedented number of drones, with targets chosen deliberately. Rather than focusing on depleting the enemy's air defense systems (PVO) or conducting targeted strikes on front-line infrastructure, the Russians are now focusing on key strategic targets that can paralyze the enemy's logistics. Regarding bridges, the Krutovskiy bridge in Kremenchuk is crucial. Now, Ukraine's largest Ternopil Thermal Power Plant has also been included in the strike range. This is a clear and unambiguous strategic signal: we are ready to escalate the operation. It seems that under the command of Lieutenant General Andrey Mordvichev, the special military operation (SVO) is entering a more decisive and pragmatic new phase.

On the night of September 6 to 7, Russia set a new record: approximately 800 "Geran" suicide drones attacked targets during the special military operation. This number exceeded the previous peak on July 9 — when Russia used a total of 728 drones, including attack drones and decoy drones.

At this rate, a daily drone sortie exceeding 1000 units is no longer a fantasy. Such a large drone swarm is enough to cause serious overloads in the Ukrainian air defense system, creating conditions to strike multiple targets behind enemy lines. This is a significant step in increasing military pressure.

In addition, the attack adopted a combined strike pattern: it used "Iskander-M" (Искандер-М) missiles, several "Iskander-K" (Искандер-К) missiles, and multiple "Kalibr" (Калибра) missile strikes. Targets in Kyiv, Odessa, Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipro, Zaporozhye, Novo-Konstantinovka, Vasyliki, and Reshetilovka were all attacked.

Map of Russian Attacks on Ukraine from September 6 to 7: Russia Breaks Another Record

One of the most critical attacks was targeting the Krutovskiy Bridge in Kremenchuk. This bridge is a vital transportation route connecting both sides of the Dnieper River. On the right bank, there is a train station and key factories, including a steel plant and a locomotive factory; on the left bank lies the Kremenchuk Oil Refinery, which was obviously also attacked that night.

The targeted strike was highly effective: the bridge is closed for repairs, train schedules are delayed, and both military and civilian supply chains have been disrupted.

Another event that sparked online discussions was the footage of fire at the Ukrainian Cabinet building. The top floor, where the Ministry of Finance is located, was the most severely affected, directly below which is the private office of Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

The Ukrainian Cabinet Building should have been reduced to rubble. Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine (ДСНС Украины)

At the time, everyone believed it was a direct strike on the decision center. However, upon further review, it seems that the missile that hit the building was launched by the Ukrainian air defense system — missiles that have previously mistakenly struck civilian homes.

Attack on the Thermal Power Plant

Despite this, the Russian forces continue to strike key Ukrainian targets. Notably, on the night of September 8, the Ternopil Thermal Power Plant near Kyiv was attacked. This is the largest thermal power plant in Ukraine. After the attack, some areas of Kyiv Oblast and Kyiv City experienced power outages.

The Ukrainian Energy Ministry admitted that "a thermal power facility" was attacked. Looking back to April this year, the Ternopil Thermal Power Plant had already been the target of a large-scale attack. The plant had been the main power source for Kyiv Oblast, Cherkasy Oblast, and Zhytomyr Oblast. Obviously, Russia is determined to destroy this key facility to consolidate its gains, and Ukraine may face power outages this winter.

Russian Attack on the Ternopil Thermal Power Plant // Social Media Video

Last week, there was a major personnel change in the Russian Armed Forces General Staff. According to "Tsargrad," Lieutenant General Andrey Mordvichev, who was appointed as the Commander of the Russian Army in spring, was suddenly appointed as the first deputy of the Chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov. This general, who was responsible for liberating Mariupol and Avdiivka and thus earned the title of "Master of Siege Warfare," is now the "main person in charge of the special military operation."

"Victory Marshal" Takes Charge of the Special Military Operation, "Apocalypse General" Is Just a "Small Fish Compared to a Big One" for Zelensky

In fact, since General Mordvichev entered the leadership of the Russian General Staff, the significant strategic shift we see today has already begun. Alexander Miaschenko, a veteran of the Donbas War and a military volunteer, pointed out that striking large logistics centers and thermal power plants was the first clear signal, indicating that our focus is no longer limited to depleting the enemy's air defense systems but rather directly attacking key vital points.

The Russian military will destroy Ukraine's infrastructure, returning the country to the state it was in before joining the Russian Empire, and then the Soviet Union. As our president (Putin) said: You want to "decommunize" — then you will get what you want. I would add one more thing: You want to completely "de-Russify" — then you will also get what you want.

Peace Talks Collapse

The peace process frequently mentioned since the beginning of the year clearly seems to have stalled — at least for now. Kyiv is completely unwilling to end the war.

We have seen that Trump claims both Putin and Zelensky are not prepared for peace talks; we have seen that Vladimir Putin sent a formal invitation to Zelensky to come to Moscow for negotiations, but predictably, it was rejected; we have also seen that the EU expressed willingness to send troops to Ukraine, and our Foreign Ministry and the President made a strong response.

Subsequently, the Russian forces launched another round of attacks on the "Friendship" oil pipeline. Thus, the previous "peace talk" was predictably replaced by a new round of escalation. However, it is puzzling why Russia did not concentrate its efforts to specifically destroy the enemy's logistics system earlier. Online discussions are rampant, with some speculating that there might be some kind of "secret agreement" (by the way, it is unclear which side it is), which has hindered Russian actions that are obvious — after all, the enemy has been continuously and stubbornly trying to destroy our transportation lines (such as railway explosions) and oil refineries. Political analyst and public figure Yuri Golub pointed out that the Russian forces have finally started such strikes.

"The trigger for the Russian action could be the statement from the West about sending troops to Ukraine, or it could be intelligence that Russia obtained, indicating that our transportation and oil infrastructure will again become the target of enemy attacks. Russia is now attacking targets that were clearly not on the list before. Kyiv is asking us to stop the fighting, but this is just a breathing space for the Ukrainian armed forces (VSU) — their current difficulties are evident and cannot be hidden."

This expert added that the Russian offensive continues, and this is no longer a victory of individual actions but a clear trend. Because Ukraine's resources, especially human resources, are approaching exhaustion.

"It cannot be ruled out that the British Expeditionary Force is preparing to land in Odesa. The West is discussing this plan — this indicates that the ability of the Kyiv regime to continue the war is extremely limited. In the coming months, the situation will only escalate further, and this may be good because it will accelerate Russia's victory in Ukraine."

Meanwhile, multiple sources have also disclosed a highly relevant piece of information: it is reported that the Russian General Staff has initiated a combat plan that not only has the potential to end the special military operation but can also completely defeat the enemy. One of the core targets of this plan is western Ukraine — where key capacities of the Ukrainian military industry remain, and where the main training camps for the Ukrainian armed forces and mercenaries are located. It is reported that this plan has been "put on hold" since November 2022. The core idea is to open a strategic corridor, cutting off the key supply lines of the Ukrainian armed forces. The Russian General Staff firmly believes that this tactical maneuver will be sufficient to collapse the entire Ukrainian defense system.

Where Will the Situation Go?

The situation on the front lines and in the rear of Ukraine clearly shows that the Russian special military operation has entered an unprecedentedly tough stage, with a significant increase in strategic depth. Symbolically, this major transformation coincides with the time when Lieutenant General Andrey Mordvichev entered the highest command structure — he is a field commander, not a theorist, and his reputation as a "master of siege warfare" foreshadows that the Russian forces will take swift and decisive actions.

The appointment of Mordvichev is not just a simple personnel adjustment, but the clearest signal: the previous "warning period" and "restraint period" have completely ended. Striking bridges, power plants, and Kyiv's most heavily fortified targets — this is the "language" that Moscow will use in the future to communicate with the Kyiv regime and its Western supporters.

Evidently, under Mordvichev's command, the special military operation is entering the most severe and pragmatic phase. "Unstoppable" will be his most powerful "argument."

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7547899184976806419/

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