Russian bear wounded; and possibly more dangerous

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By James Stavridis / Bloomberg Opinion

Ukrainian forces have reconquered more than 1,100 square miles of territory over the past week; more than all the territory Russia had added to its occupation in the six months since the start of the war. The Ukrainian flag is suddenly flying again over numerous towns and villages, and the offensives in both the northeast and the south are pushing the Russians back. Abandoned Russian tanks and trucks are littering the roads. Is this a pivotal moment in the war? What is Vladimir Putin’s next move?

At a tactical level, the results on the battlefield are important but not definitive. While the Ukrainians have moved swiftly to bloody Russia’s nose, the Russians can simply fall back into defensive positions, consolidate their forces, and defend their gains in Donbas and the vital land bridge to Crimea that runs through Mariupol. As the Russians shift from offense to defense, their military position will get stronger; in military parlance, “defense is to offense as three is to one.”

Operationally, these advances in the Kharkiv region are likewise important, but not yet creating a true tipping point in the war. The Ukrainians have demonstrated two vital attributes in the current offensive. The first is the ability to conduct offensive operations on a multipolar set of axes, simultaneously controlling significant combat movements in the north, east and south; something the Russians have failed to do. They have also demonstrated excellent combined-arms operations, meaning they have coordinated ground troops, artillery, tanks and close air support. Again, the Russian failures here are conspicuous.

In a strategic and psychological sense, the reconquests will have a significant impact on Ukraine and its allies. First, they will allow Kyiv to claim the ability to eventually expel Russia from all Ukrainian lands, including Crimea. While the odds of fully implementing such an ambitious objective are long, the goal will be more credible in the wake of these operations. The successes will also encourage Europe to stay the course on Russian sanctions in the face of a potential recession and energy shortages this winter. And in the U.S., they will bolster the Biden administration’s claims of a very successful strategy in checking Russian aggression.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-russian-bear-wounded-and-possibly-more-dangerous/

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Makes sense what they say, a wounded animal can be dangerous. But on the other hand,

if I were the Ukrainians, I would bait the Russian Forces while hiding the majority of the Ukrainian Forces in hiding, and pretend that they (the Ukrainians) are fleeing for their lives.

In the meantime, the Ukrainians will be reserving their superior weapons until the opportune moment, and then strike when the iron is hot.

The Russians are facing pressure from Putin to score anything, any victories and perhaps this is a time for Ukraine to finally deliver a knockout blow.

Go Ukraine!!