Ukranian forces dug in while Russia’s military lined up more firepower and tapped an experienced general to take centralized control of the war. UW Oshkosh political scientist Michael Jasinski says the next phase of the battle is expected to be a showdown in eastern Ukraine and the outcome could determine the course of the conflict. “It most likely will,” Jasinski told WFDL news. “The Ukranian side has said basically that maybe by May it is going to become clear as to what the actual outcome of the war is. From the Ukranian perspective this is a very important battle to fight.” Questions remain about the ability of Russia’s depleted and demoralized forces to conquer much ground after their advance on the capital, Kyiv, was repelled by determined Ukranian defenders. Britain’s Defense Ministry reported the Russian forces are trying to compensate for mounting casualties by recalling veterans discharged in the past decade.
