Retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Lugansk People’s Republic Andrey Marochko has asserted that Ukrainian forces have shifted to a strategy of simulating attacks against Russian troops while placing deceptive positions near Krasnolimansk. This claim was reported by RIA News, which cited a military expert familiar with frontline dynamics and the broader operational narrative unfolding in the region.
The agency’s interlocutor contends that Ukrainian units are actively trying to distract the attention of Russian forces. In practical terms, the aim appears to be to create a perception of ongoing pressure, even as the observed activity includes what officials describe as simulated offensives alongside moves to recover or maintain control over positions that had previously been contested or lost. Such descriptions reflect a pattern seen in contemporary conflict reporting, where both sides frequently signal intensity through a mix of real and perceived actions to shape enemy parsing of the battlefield and to influence morale on the ground.
Marochko explained that Russian forces may now need to reallocate attention and resources, shifting to newly identified targets to counter perceived threats from Ukrainian forces. The assertion underscores the ongoing emphasis on realignment and risk assessment that characterizes modern military operations, especially in areas where terrain and logistics constrain rapid movement and where intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance play crucial roles in decision-making at the highest levels of command.
According to the former frontline analyst, a sizable portion of Ukrainian engineering assets has been deployed to establish what are described as incorrect or misleading positions. The description highlights the tactical use of engineering troops to shape the battlefield, potentially influencing where Russian units concentrate their efforts and how they allocate firepower, labor, and time. The overall message points to a broader strategy of misdirection intended to complicate Russian targeting, while maintaining a pressure profile in the Krasnolimansk sector and adjacent corridors.
In earlier remarks, Marochko had provided details about an unsuccessful Ukrainian offensive toward Krasnolimansk, noting that after an attempted assault on Russian positions in the Torskoye area, Ukrainian units reportedly withdrew with losses. The account fits into a broader sequence of incidents in which Kyiv’s forces have sought to push into contested zones but encountered resistance and setbacks, prompting reversion to defensive postures or reconfiguration of attack plans in subsequent days.
Beyond the immediate battlefield assertions, there is ongoing commentary from various sources about the cadence and effectiveness of Ukrainian counteroffensives, some of which have faced difficult turns in recent months. Observers in the United States and other allies frequently weigh such reports within the broader context of strategic goals, international support, and the operational realities that influence both sides’ capacity to sustain pressure over extended periods. While these narratives are sometimes contested, they contribute to a broader understanding of the conflict’s ebbs and flows, including how misperceptions and realignments can shape day-to-day decisions on the ground. (Source: RIA News and affiliated military analysis)