New “Thrust” In Ukrainian Counteroffensive Not Enough To Reverse Military Scenario

New "Thrust" In Ukrainian Counteroffensive Not Enough To Reverse Military Scenario

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Written by Lucas Leiroz, journalist, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, geopolitical consultant

Western media are trying to improve Kiev’s image and create new expectations around the so-called “counteroffensive”. In an article published by the New York Times on July 26, authors stated that “Ukraine has launched the main thrust of its counteroffensive”. It was reported that the Ukrainian authorities had authorized a new war effort, giving an important boost to the operation. At this phase, it is said that a large number of NATO-trained troops are being moved to the front lines. The objective is to gain territory in the regions liberated by the Russians, mainly in the south of the country.

“The United States and other Western allies have trained about 63,000 Ukrainian troops, according to the Pentagon, and have supplied more than 150 modern battle tanks, a much larger number of older tanks, hundreds of infantry fighting vehicles and thousands of other armored vehicles (…) In villages all along the southern front line on Wednesday, unusually heavy artillery fire could be heard as Ukrainian guns thundered from hidden positions and Russian artillery and mortars targeted former Russian positions and villages now occupied by Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainian troops deployed along that part of the front say they are steadily pushing the Russian troops back in what they describe as step by step, rather than breakthrough, movements”, the article reads.

In fact, the NYT report is in line with what some other newspapers have been saying on the topic recently. For example, CNN published an article on the same day called “Ukraine’s counteroffensive is ramping up after months of slow progress”, in which it is also said that Kiev is deploying well-trained and equipped troops to regain positions currently under control of the Russian armed forces.

“The Ukrainian military had been holding large numbers of trained troops, some equipped with more powerful Western weapons, back since the operation started in early June. While it still maintains some combat power in reserve, it has now deployed the ‘main bulk’ of the forces committed to the counteroffensive forces”, CNN’s text reads.

This information is not entirely false. There is some veracity in the data, as Kiev has indeed recently launched a second phase of its “counteroffensive” against Russian forces. After the absolute military failure in Donbass, the Ukrainian focus has been on trying to recover some ground in the south, mainly in Zaporozhye. To achieve these strategic objectives, indeed, many NATO-trained troops that until now had been kept in the rear are finally being sent to the frontlines.

Keeping special forces outside the front has been a common Ukrainian practice. Kiev tries to preserve what is left of its military potential by keeping its well-trained troops as long as possible in the rear, while newly recruited and poorly equipped soldiers are sent in large numbers to the “meat grinder” at the frontlines. Kiev allows the deployment of its well-trained forces to the front only at specific times when there is some feasible hope of territorial gain. Currently, Ukraine is betting on the possibility of regaining ground in the south, which explains why forces trained abroad are finally being sent to the region.

It remains to be seen, however, whether the Ukrainian plans will really go as expected by the regime and media. Despite having several NATO-trained troops, the regime is militarily weakened after months of intense fighting. The Russians have created a very solid defensive line with their recent territorial gains, making it difficult for enemy forces to achieve any significant progress.

Also, it must be emphasized that there are a lot of minefields around these Russian-dominated regions. The Ukrainian armed forces are sending large numbers of special forces and NATO military tanks there, which is resulting in heavy losses. As Kiev’s well-trained soldiers die, the regime will be forced to bet once again on sending its inexperienced troops, resulting in new “meat grinders”.

It is unlikely that Ukraine will achieve any relevant territorial gains, except in the event of some strategic retreat by Russian units. Russia’s military advantage will not be easily reversed by simply sending the best troops to the front. In practice, the Ukrainian action sounds more like a gesture of desperation, with the regime sending everything it still has to the lines, trying to gain some ground. Not by chance, a Pentagon official commented on the case classifying the Ukrainian effort as a “big test“.

Even if there is a “thrust”, this does not seem enough to reverse the Russian gains in the conflict. Ukrainian losses so far have been too severe to be compensated by merely deploying a few NATO-trained forces. Wars are not won with just a few special troops, depending also on a strong apparatus of artillery and aviation, in addition to the ability to replace losses. In all these sectors, the Russians continue to have an extreme advantage, which is why Western propaganda about the Zaporozhye offensive sounds like yet another irresponsible attempt to spread expectations of [an impossible] victory.

You can follow Lucas on Twitter and Telegram.

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American Russian vet for Trump

counter oink 2.0 going according to plan. the russian plan

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Avmaster

a handful of empty villages and fields is what at least 50 tanks and hundreds of dead buys you…

at this rate, it will be thousands of tanks and hundreds of thousands upon thousands of dead before they reach crimea….

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Gneaus stapo

stop spreading nato/ ukraine 🇺🇦 propaganda…. putin said weeks ago 256 tanks destroyed, how dare u challenge the beloved düfaz putin.

Uncle Ho

just count them yourself. it looks more like kursk 2.0 than any battle in 80 years. telegram has actual uncensored videos that you can’t watch on western television. why is that? does truth need censorship or does lying need covered for?

🌸😈02😈🌸

according to the pathetic us-regime, the more the hype for counteroffensive and trailers = the better. well it’s essential to distinguish between real life and movies, the us does not conform international laws, nor do they abide by what they “preach”. a pathetic, cruel regime.

🌸😈02😈🌸

why would russia use nukes against the ineptitude, ineffective nazi-regime of kiev’s terrorists?

WT Bakker

oh right the nyt’s, aren’t they addicted to lying?

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Gneaus stapo

compared igor konashenkov’s numbers and düfaz vladis fairy tales, even baghdad bob’s statements seem rational and truthful in retrospektiv.

Jean Paul France

the american jewish deep state publishes its poison and its lies in the new york times. in spain a long time ago they bought the newspaper el país.

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Last edited 1 year ago by Jean Paul France
Clubofinfo

the question is whether the challenger iis will finally be sent in. for british people, it will be a disappointment if these are destroyed in a warehouse. the longer they aren’t deployed, the more likely the russians will zero in on the storage point before they can ever be used

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UkHomoSap

bring it on to point zero. a worthy challenge!

Kbm

hahaha 😆 help kievs image tells you everything. look at the mess on the usas exit from afghanistan. taliban over ran the country and the usa left behind billions in tanks and armour. tell me how much better things are progressing in ukraine.

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Frank Zappa

the “thrust” is joe biden in to zelenkies rear end.

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Koller

zelenskys darstellungen erinnern an die weltberühmten muppets

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