Posted on 01/12/2024 9:00:46 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
As Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches the two-year mark, it is vital for Ukraine’s military and political leadership to properly digest the lessons of 2022 and 2023.
The most important conclusion to draw from the past two years of fighting is the dominance of defensive warfare over offensive operations. This has been demonstrated again and again, beginning with the failure of Russia’s initial blitzkrieg in the first month of the war.
A second key lesson is the importance of balancing political goals with military capabilities. Since February 2022, political considerations have forced both Russia and Ukraine to embark on ill-fated offensives with insufficient forces, leading to heavy losses.
While Ukraine’s long-term aim remains the complete liberation of the country from Russian occupation, current circumstances do not favor bold offensive operations. On the international front, US and EU aid commitments have run into serious political obstacles, while efforts to expand the production of military equipment and armaments have fallen well behind schedule. In Ukraine, concerns are mounting over high casualty rates and potential manpower shortages.
(Excerpt) Read more at atlanticcouncil.org ...
Why its so easy, even the Atlantic Council can see it.
Austin could fix it from his hospital bed....
Counter counter offensive? Idiot Ukes can kiss Odessa goodbye. When you find yourself in bed with the Globohomo/alliance don’t cry to me when you wake up with severe butt hurt. The war stalemated last summer and fall while the Ukes destroyed their army throwing it into the Russian’s horrific defensive meat grinder. That’s when the war was lost. The Russians are slowly, methodically advancing on their final goals. The old men and boys of the Uke’s Volkssturm can’t stop them.
And yet Russia still can’t capture Avdiivka, after 3 months and 130,000 of its troops now killed
Russia can’t seem to defeat Ukraine ... Putin could die before this thing ends
“And yet Russia still can’t capture Avdiivka, after 3 months and 130,000 of its troops now killed”
The Russians should try to bypass cities, ringing them with well-placed artillery.
Clearing the way for a four-mile road and paving it would not cost 130,000 lives.
“the Ukes destroyed their army throwing it into the Russian’s horrific defensive meat grinder”
That was a terrible mistake.
It's like WWI. You can't really bypass cities.
“kiss Odessa goodbye”
When Russians try to take a city all they get is rubble and more war widows.
This is another article by another self appointed expert, telling both sides what they already know better than anyone else.
I see from your map why the Russians want control of Avdiivka, it is within artillery range of Donetsk, but unlike WWI the shelling of Donetsk would not be lawful if Russia had no military targets within the city itself.
Crimea a river.
Just what are these final goals of Russia they are advancing on?
Since when is a few square miles per month victory in any war?
If Ukraine's army is destroyed (for the third or fourth time now) last summer, why hasn't Russia already won?
WIKI
The Department of Defense defines active defense as: “The employment of limited offensive action and counterattacks to deny a contested area or position to the enemy.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_defense
Ukraine needs to conserve its remaining skilled servicemen until the newer ones are battle ready.
“why hasn’t Russia already won”
All Russia would win would be more Ukrainian hatred and rubble, which is the last thing the guy who dreams of a reunited CCCP wants.
They might want to try negotiating a peace deal while they still have a country (minus military age men).
“The most important conclusion to draw from the past two years of fighting is the dominance of defensive warfare over offensive operations. This has been demonstrated again and again, beginning with the failure of Russia’s initial blitzkrieg in the first month of the war.”
The initial Russian advance covered large distances very quickly. It was like the Battle of France in 1940. But the Russians didn’t have enough troops and couldn’t hold it.
What they need now is lots of engineering vehicles to clear mines. Preferably remotely piloted and with multiple ploughs or rollers on each vehicle.
And massive numbers precision guided weapons to hit any Ukrainian positions that fire on their mine clearing equipment. (like the planned 25x increase in Krasnopol production)
Supposedly, according to statements on Russian TV by politicians, 2024 will be another buildup year and 2025 will be the big attack.
Your map is over a month old.
Hopefully this links to current The Institute for the Study of War map:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/36a7f6a6f5a9448496de641cf64bd375
The Russians seem to have made broad advances in the eastern part of the front.
“mines”
Airburst munitions will always be able to take out advancing troops.
It generally takes explosive force to fire airburst munitions at advancing troops, but they only have to be fired at actual troop advances.
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