Russians will retreat from Crimea next summer – General Hodges

This was stated in an interview with Channel 24 by General Ben Hodges, the former commander of the American Army in Europe. The military reported that the Ukrainian army’s counteroffensive started in September 2022. General Hodges explained why this scenario must happen.

Hodges examined the peculiarities of Crimea’s liberation

According to the general, the offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces may be seen as one unified group, with the right wing of the counteroffensive in Kherson and the left-wing moving toward Mariupol.

“The ultimate target of both of these lines is Crimea. The award is Crimea. And according to him, Crimea will be freed by the end of the next summer”, Ben Hodges predicted.

The general continued by saying that by then Ukrainians would be driving Russian soldiers back and destroying Russian supplies. 

Due to the fear of being approached by Ukrainian drones or anti-ship missiles, the Russian navy will remain hidden near Crimea.

Ukraine does not even have a fleet

“This demonstrates once more how awful circumstances are for Russians. This, in my opinion, is what awaits us ahead,” the general explained.

The General Hodges stated that the British, Americans, and Germans must give Ukraine with all it needs to deter Russian invasion.

According to the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine is making every effort to recover Crimea. The Ukrainian Armed Forces, intelligence and special services are working to make it happen, Zelensky said.

Russia has captured and annexed Crimea in 2014.