"Yakov Kedmi: It doesn’t reflect well on Ukraine. Well, that’s a fact. But the real situation must be taken into account. And the real dangers have to be taken into account. And here, for example, in this operation, the main strategic decision, which I consider a colossal success, a huge success that no one understands. It is the liberation of the Lugansk region, the liberation of the Kherson region and the establishment of a land corridor to Crimea. This saved Crimea. It will save Crimea. Because without a land corridor, Crimea was always in danger. And this was done. And nobody understood the sense of the operation. But this was done. And now new actions, new escapades of the Ukrainian authorities with the help of their allies. Blowing up a gas pipeline in the Black Sea. The permanent threat in the Black Sea leaves Russia no choice but to seize the Black Sea coast. Only this will secure the Black Sea, the Black Sea Fleet and Russia’s strategic interests in both the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Nothing else.

Vladimir Solovyov: The only thing left is to achieve the task.

Yakov Kedmi: It’s like topography. Topography defines warfare, terrain. And so it is here. As long as the Black Sea coast is ruled by a state other than Russia, everything that runs along the bottom of the Black Sea and everything that goes to the Mediterranean, and the fleet, will be in danger. Because it will be used against Russia. And there is nothing to do here. It’s not a different question, it’s a matter of life and death. It’s the same as without Crimea there is no Black Sea Fleet. No. Without Kherson - no Crimea. Without the Black Sea coast - the entire Black Sea Fleet is in danger. And Crimea is also from the sea side, despite Kherson."