I’m still not understanding why all this effort to sacrifice men for a small place like Bakjmut.
This was why the Ukrainians fought so hard at Bakhmut: it was an unending opportunity for a good kill ratio. The neo-Stalinists around here will argue that a 2-to-1 kill ratio is plenty good for Russia to win, since it has 3 times the population. But does anyone really think Russia is as willing to fight to the last man as Ukraine is?
The long announced Ukrainian counter offensive has started. New Ukrainian units, never seen before, have come to the front.
The attack was launched by Ukraine for political reasons under pressure from its 'western' sponsors. Militarily it is unlikely to become successful but it will eat away at whatever is left of Ukraine's military capabilities.
Attacks happened all around the front. In the north towards Belgograd, to the east and, with the most forces, towards the south. There was so far little to no success in any of the attacks.
The daily report by the Russian Ministry of Defense list as Ukrainian losses over the last 24 hours 910 soldiers, 16 tanks, 33 armored combat vehicles/infantry fighting vehicle and some 30 trucks
So far only the most forward positions of Russian troops have been attacked. There are two to three well organized defense lines behind those. The Russians can fall back whenever needed and let the artillery and air force destroy their oncoming enemies.
fear not timber, there is always another war beyond the war.
Wagner Mercenaries were the only Russians who have done a successful offensive in the past couple of months. If Putin is smart, he would give more control to Yevgeny Prigozhin, and privatize the war in Ukraine. The Russian military is corrupt so they’re worthless. Yevgeny Prigozhin is competent but Putin would be threatened of a coup so he wouldn’t do the logical thing here.