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Why Ukraine’s counteroffensive is going so slow

Ukraine's counteroffensive tanks
Photo: Ukraine’s General Staff
Why Ukraine’s counteroffensive is going so slow
Article by: Volodymyr Dacenko
Ukraine’s counteroffensive is going “slower than desired,” President Zelenskyy acknowledged while warning it is not a Hollywood movie and cannot yield instant results. Analyst Volodymyr Dacenko explains why instant breakthroughs are not to be expected yet.

The beginning of the offensive is the most difficult stage of the attack. If you do not expect to catch the enemy by surprise, then the beginning of the assault is the most challenging stage.

At the beginning of the offensive, the enemy is in the most advantageous position:

  1. The army has been preparing for defense for a long time and has strong defensive positions.
  2. There are still enough soldiers to hold the defense and there are also reserves.
  3. Artillery is ready, there is still enough ammunition.
  4. Aviation works in its airspace.
  5. Any accumulation of equipment or soldiers is easily tracked.
  6. Breaking through several layers of minefields will inevitably lead to the loss of equipment.
  7. The enemy is ready to impose a counterattack in the buffer zone.
  8. There is not enough space for the attackers to gather many soldiers and equipment.

In the first two weeks of the counterattack, we see battles for the buffer zone between the first line of defense and the second line of defense. Someone will say it may look slow, but it is worth remembering that now is the most difficult stage.

And as long as the Russians have enough artillery, aviation, and soldiers, you should not expect a quick offensive. It will begin only when the Russian defense is in crisis.

Ukraine is hunting for Russian artillery and ammunition depots, trying to bleed them dry and leave the Russian forces unsupported. Аny summaries are worthless now. We don’t even know if the main blow of the counteroffensive will really take place where the heaviest battles are currently taking place.

All this can only be a preparation for something more unexpected than the Zaporizhzhia offensive, which has been talked about for many months.

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