In recent days, Russia has renewed its shelling of Odesa, using Iranian-made Shahid-136 kamikaze drones. Our air defense forces failed to shoot down all the drones, and some of them hit the administration building in Odesa port and the administration building in the city center.
Regarding the reasons for the increase in attacks on Odessa, mobilization in Russia and the world's reaction to the referendums, ElitExpert asked the former Deputy Minister of Economy, Professor Mykhailo Pozhivanov, who heads the Odesa city organization of the Batkivshchyna party, for a comment.
IRANIAN DRONES OVER ODESSA
Every day of the war brings us different news. It was a shock for me back on February 24, when Russia had just started the war and the offensive was from Belarus to the Black Sea, when they started using rockets and phosphorus bombs against completely peaceful Ukrainians. The torture of our prisoners of war and many other horrors - they are waging an absolutely criminal war against the civilian population of Ukraine, which is recognized by almost all world leaders.
In general, one gets the impression that Russia does not even think about the possibility that its leadership will have to answer for everything, they have completely departed from any legal field and international norms. But they will answer.
In the situation with the drone attacks in Odesa, it is regrettable that these are Iranian-made drones and that country sided with the Russian Federation in the matter of supplying weapons.
But I think, having absolute confirmation that we are being attacked by Iranian drones, this country will receive additional sanctions to the already existing ones. Iran has sanctions restrictions on its nuclear program, and I am sure that additional restrictions will be imposed on the supply of Iranian oil to the world market.
In addition, today we see that even those countries that took a neutral position all the time, saying that it was "not quite a war", bought gas and oil products from Russia in the first months of the conflict, worked with them, did not ban the payment systems of the Russian Federation - on today they declare their clear position in relation to the war, they will support Ukraine and stop their interaction with Russia.
Even the CSTO countries — Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan — are changing their rhetoric and abandoning the Russian Mir payment system. Large companies of India and China also refuse to work with Russia in order not to fall under world sanctions. And even when there was information about the supply of weapons to the Russian Federation from North Korea, the leader of this country said that he had never supplied and was not going to supply weapons to Russia. This is an important signal that even a dictator like Kim Jong Un does not want to align himself with the Russian Federation and Putin.
In general, world leaders were in for a real shock after the appointment of the so-called referendums and the simultaneous announcement of mobilization in the Russian Federation. Also, in my opinion, the announcement of mobilization and the successful exchange of prisoners happened at the same time not by chance. The leadership of Russia tried to cover the news of the exchange of prisoners with the news of the mobilization, so that their public would swallow it.
As for Iran, I am sure that there will be a response and reaction from the world. Separately, I would like to mention the support of Israel, which already provides Ukraine with equipment to combat Iranian drones, which they themselves use in the confrontation with this country.
MOBILIZATION IN RUSSIA
The total strength of the Russian army fighting against Ukraine is 170-190 thousand soldiers. Based on the statements of the Russian leadership, 300 more may be added to this number through mobilization, so we need to be ready for that. Because it can really affect the general situation at the front.
On the other hand, we understand that those currently mobilized in the Russian Federation do not have the necessary military training and they will not appear in Ukraine tomorrow. I understand that the 300 they are mobilizing need to be taught something, form units, establish communication, clothe and, most importantly, arm them. All this requires resources and time, these are quite complex things.
We also see a negative reaction to the mobilization almost throughout Russia. Kadyrov said that Chechnya will not participate in this at all. In Dagestan, young people gathered near one of the military commanders and categorically refused to go on mobilization. When the military leadership told them about their grandfathers who fought against Germany in the Second World War, they heard a very clear answer that no one attacked their country today and they do not see Ukraine as an enemy.
Such cases are not isolated in Russia. They show a certain change in the mentality and views of Russians — when it began to affect everyone in the Russian Federation personally. When they want to take your child to the front, and in fact to death, when Ukraine's counteroffensive has already begun, then this is a reference to death.
And we see that both the authorities of Ukraine and the Ukrainians themselves are turning to the Russians today to convince them in any way to avoid mobilization. Better prison than death. Because we understand what we are fighting for, but they don't. We defend our land and our country.
BREAKING ON THE FRONT
Talking to many people and based on my experience, I can say that within a month or two you can expect good news for Ukraine.
The day before, we had an all-Ukrainian selector with the leader of our party, Yulia Tymoshenko, and with the participation of the leadership of all regional organizations. In addition to working information, Yuliya Volodymyrivna also noted that in the near future we expect a breakthrough and good news for Ukraine. And even the fact that Putin announced mobilization in the Russian Federation speaks of his defeat.
The Russians will lose completely today along the entire front line — both in the east and in the south. For example, today there is already information that the Armed Forces of the Donetsk region have liberated a large piece of territory that was under the control of the so-called "DNR" since 2014. Therefore, analyzing the information available today in the Ukrainian, Russian, and especially world media, reading English-language analytical materials, I see an increase in support for Ukraine by the world. I especially see a change in the rhetoric of states with a neutral position, which are now leaning in our direction - this is caused by the mobilization and "referendums" of Russia. Therefore, I am sure that Ukraine will stand up and win.
