Posted on 11/19/2024 5:44:58 PM PST by RandFan
3 hours ago
The Russian military is accelerating its gains along the front line in Ukraine at a crucial time for the conflict.
Data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shows that Russia has gained almost six times as much territory in 2024 as it did in 2023, and is advancing towards key Ukrainian logistical hubs in the eastern Donbas region.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk region is faltering. Russian troops have pushed Kyiv's offensive backwards. Experts have questioned the success of the offensive, with one calling it a "strategic catastrophe" given manpower shortages faced by Ukraine.
These developments come at a time of heightened uncertainty with a second Donald Trump administration looming. The US president-elect has vowed to bring the war to a close when he takes office in January, with some fearing he could cut future military aid to Ukraine.
Russia advances in eastern Ukraine
In the first few months of the war the front line moved quickly, with Russia gaining ground quickly before being pushed back by a Ukrainian counteroffensive. But in 2023 neither side made any major gains - with the conflict largely sliding into a stalemate.
But new ISW figures suggest the story in 2024 is more favourable for Russia. The ISW bases its analysis on confirmed social media footage and reports of troop movements.
The ISW data shows Moscow’s forces have seized around 2,700 sq km of Ukrainian territory so far this year, compared with just 465 sq km in the whole of 2023, a near six-fold increase.
Dr Marina Miron, a defence researcher at Kings College London, suggested to the BBC that there was a possibility the Ukrainian eastern front “might actually collapse” if Russia continued to advance at pace.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
The punch into Kursk was the classic Battle of the Bulge error.
And given what an incredibly biased source the ISW is, it is likely underestimating Russian gains.
“The ISW data shows Moscow’s forces have seized around 2,700 sq km of Ukrainian territory so far this year”
That’s peanuts! That’s smaller than a township.
I wonder how many Ukrainians and Russians died fighting over an area the equivalent of 32.3 by 32.3 miles? How much did it cost the US tax payer for the Ukrainians to lose that tiny little bit of real estate? That would have been a couple hours work when Rommel was on the roll, or when Patton was chasing the Germans.
It is the size of Rhode Island (not counting the water areas).
Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe. Russian bandits will steal as much of it as possible.
A township is generally 36 square miles. The Russians have taken quite a lot more than that. For a variety of reasons, this is a war of attrition, not a war of maneuver. The Russians have maintained the initiative along the eastern line of contact, with a steady slog westward, bleeding Ukraine of men and materiel along the way.
Post war analysis will have senile Joe’s Ukie war cheerleaders heads explode….hint: he lied about everything.
I mean, that “offensive defensive” style of attrition warfare is classic Russian. They’re doing it over plains - I don’t think anyone has every managed to *stop* the Russians once they got well set and started with their ‘forward creeping defensive line” in this terrain type once they got established.
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