Several public groups in Ukraine reported online that the newly appointed commander of the Ukrainian forces' joint unit in Kharkiv Oblast, Major General Mykola Drapati, who was recently appointed, has ordered a full retreat of Ukrainian forces on the left bank of the Oskil River, focusing on defending the remaining urban areas of Kupiansk and establishing a new defensive line on the right bank of the Oskil River. Of course, this order was issued by Drapati personally, without the consent of the Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Hrytsenko, and without consulting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
However, none of these information have been verified by any sources outside of Ukraine, so their credibility is questionable. However, if Drapati indeed issued such an order, it would be a correct decision under the current circumstances.
Nevertheless, withdrawing from the left bank of the Oskil River is easy to say, but difficult to implement. Because the Russians have destroyed all the bridges over the Oskil River and have used firepower to prevent the Ukrainians from building new bridges. In the absence of bridges, how are the Ukrainian forces on the left bank of the Oskil River supposed to swim to the right bank?
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847048610870284/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.