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Ukraine's top general wanted a bold counteroffensive a year earlier that the US thought was too risky. It might have reshaped the war.
Business Insider ^ | Jan 9, 2024 | Chris Panella and Ryan Pickrell

Posted on 01/13/2024 3:37:00 PM PST by MinorityRepublican

Ukraine's forces slammed against stiff Russian defenses in southern Ukraine this summer, and ultimately, the counteroffensive failed. Unable to get the US onboard earlier, the move in a critical sector of southern Ukraine came a year later than when the country's top general first wanted to make it, a new book reports.

Had it come when he wanted, it might have reshaped the war, for better or worse.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Gen. Valery Zaluzhny pushed for a bold, and by some observations risky, counteroffensive in 2022 that never came to be, according to the new book "Our Enemies Will Vanish" by Yaroslav Trofimov, the Wall Street Journal's chief foreign-affairs correspondent.

It was a plan to punch through parts of Zaporizhzhia and sever the so-called "land bridge" to isolate Russian forces in Crimea.

(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...


TOPICS: Ukraine
KEYWORDS: chrispanella; couldawouldashoulda; ryanpickrell; strategy; ukraine; war
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To: MinorityRepublican

Imagine Eisenhower with the yips.


21 posted on 01/13/2024 5:51:06 PM PST by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Well it might have changed the war somewhat since it would happen before Russia had dug in and mobilized.

But I imagine any gains would be lost eventually after Russia mobilized.

However, I am not sure I believe this report. As other reports suggest NATO wanted to run a blitzkrieg/D-Day suicide run to break through the Russian lines as the summer counter offensive but UKR said no. They preferred the piece meal probing attacks and diverted many troops to defend Bahkmut rather than storming the Russian lines.


22 posted on 01/13/2024 6:05:54 PM PST by 13foxtrot
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To: 13foxtrot
But I imagine any gains would be lost eventually after Russia mobilized.

Ukraine had all the momentum in 2022. That was the time to sever the land bridge.

The only catch is that Ukraine may be short of ammo at that time.

23 posted on 01/13/2024 6:08:09 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: 13foxtrot
They preferred the piece meal probing attacks and diverted many troops to defend Bahkmut rather than storming the Russian lines.

That was better. I still think they wasted too many troops defending Bahkmut.

24 posted on 01/13/2024 6:10:35 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

They coulda pulled off a major offensive if they’d just had 90 howitzers? Really??


25 posted on 01/13/2024 6:13:15 PM PST by Burma Jones
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To: MinorityRepublican

>>>But I imagine any gains would be lost eventually after Russia mobilized.

>>Ukraine had all the momentum in 2022. That was the time to sever the land bridge.

>>The only catch is that Ukraine may be short of ammo at that time.

Many things may have been different. Wagner would probably not have been focused on Bahkmut they would probably be directed to help reestablish the land bridge.

UKR would still have air power issues too.

Doesn’t matter now. This report sounds like CYA for Zalushni for what is to come when UKR accepts that they have lost.

Russia views NATO encroachment as an existential threat. While NATO/EU view NATO expansion as a nice-to-have. So Russia would probably outlast NATO/EU either way.


26 posted on 01/13/2024 6:16:47 PM PST by 13foxtrot
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To: 13foxtrot
UKR would still have air power issues too.

It would be difficult for Ukraine to establish air defense if they are overextended.

During the counteroffensive, the Russians were able to use their air power with some effectiveness.

For most of the war, the Russians had to sideline their air power because the Ukrainians can shoot them down quite easily.

27 posted on 01/13/2024 6:20:07 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

>>For most of the war, the Russians had to sideline their air power because the Ukrainians can shoot them down quite easily.

Russian adoption of stand-off glide bombs seems to be a decisive development

Heard they are using 1500kg ordinance now.


28 posted on 01/13/2024 6:36:28 PM PST by 13foxtrot
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To: MinorityRepublican
I'd say Zalushny might have been distracted. Here he is with his 'assistant', Alla Martynyuk.


29 posted on 01/13/2024 6:49:21 PM PST by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
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To: mac_truck

You’re right. But you can say the same thing about the Russians. Especially with their officers. Except for Yevgeny Prigozhin. But he’s dead now.


30 posted on 01/13/2024 6:51:43 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: Robert DeLong

“But Biden didn’t did he, why is that? Could he really be assisting Russia instead?”

Hmmm. You might be onto something there. After all, Biden is goodbuddies with Russia’s allies Iran and the Chicoms. Maybe he’s been giving them the same razzle-dazzle he’s been giving Israel. Loudly proclaiming full support while quietly greasing the skids behind the scenes.


31 posted on 01/13/2024 11:28:25 PM PST by rxh4n1
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They didn’t want a ‘bold counter offensive’ because Zelensky was in no shape militarily to launch one. This re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic gets old...


32 posted on 01/14/2024 12:43:48 AM PST by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Yeah. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.


33 posted on 01/14/2024 1:26:09 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: MinorityRepublican

Field Marshall Josef von Biden leading Ukraine towards ignominy.


34 posted on 01/14/2024 6:30:45 AM PST by Wdempsey (Democrats and slinkys.. Both useless but fun to push down stairs.v v ely)
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