Putin’s retreat could be a deadly distraction, allowing him to inflict the most damage with a “irreparable blow.”

As Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine enters its second month, Russian forces continue to face fierce opposition from their Ukrainian opponents. In that time, Putin’s army has only taken one major city: Kherson in Ukraine’s south. According to recent reports, Ukraine has launched a major counteroffensive to retake the port city.

On Friday, Sergey Rudskoi, the head of the Russian General Staff’s Main Operational Directorate, claimed that Russia had accomplished “the main objectives of the first stage of its operation” and would now focus on “liberating” the Donbas.

A senior diplomatic source in Moscow described it as a face-saving manoeuvre and a possible precursor to a Russian retreat.

According to a former British military officer, the move could deal a “significant and irreparable blow” to Ukraine’s ultimate defence.

According to Dominic Nicholls, a defence and security expert, President Zelensky is faced with a difficult military and political choice: stand firm and defend the Donbass, or retreat.

Sergey Rudskoi, the head of the Russian General Staff’s Main Operational Directorate, stated on Friday that Russia had achieved “the main objectives of the first stage of its operation” and would now focus on “liberating” the Donbas.

According to a senior diplomatic source in Moscow, it was a face-saving manoeuvre and a possible precursor to a Russian retreat.

According to a former British military officer, the move could deal Ukraine’s ultimate defence a “significant and irreparable blow.”

According to Dominic Nicholls, a defence and security expert, President Zelensky must make a difficult military and political decision: stand firm and defend the Donbass, or retreat.

“If Ukrainian forces in the east are cut off and surrounded by Russian troops, regardless of the fact that 13 of the 16 battalion tactical groups being rushed into the area of operations by Moscow are conscripts,” Mr Nicholls said, “that could be a significant and irreparable blow to Ukraine’s ultimate defence.”

He mentioned that Russian forces retook the strategic city of Izyum, which serves as a gateway to the Donbas, last week.

“They (the Russians) can’t pull out,” the former British Army officer continued in the Daily Telegraph.

“To do so while in contact with the enemy would invite a chargeback to the safety of the West Bank of the Dnieper River, which was under attack from three directions.

“That would be a military blunder. Volodymyr Zelensky would be making a difficult political calculation if he gave up such hard-fought and totemic ground.

“Since 2014, Ukraine has been at war with Russia.” That war has been fought (in plain sight) in the country’s east.

“And if this conflict is to be resolved through negotiation, as almost all expect, Mr Zelensky does not want to enter into talks with the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts already lost.”

“Without the Donbas, Vladimir Putin cannot end this reckless, ridiculous, and illegal adventure.” He will perish if he does not have it.

“Mr Zelensky, on the other hand, cannot allow the area to fall.”

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, Russian-backed separatists now control 93% of Ukraine’s Luhansk region and 54% of the Donetsk region.