<
https://theconversation.com/why-2024-could-be-a-grim-year-for-ukraine-with-momentous-implications-for-the-world-223096>
"Two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine’s
resistance remains remarkable. Confident initial predictions of a swift Russian
triumph were repeatedly proven wrong. Instead, Russia’s military was beset by
poor logistics, corruption, a sclerotic command structure and an inability to
counter Ukrainian tactics.
Kyiv’s armed forces successfully prevented a rash Russian attempt to seize the
Ukrainian capital and then stopped the entire Russian advance. After six
months, they began turning the Russian invaders back, recapturing swathes of
territory around Kharkov in the north and Kherson in the south.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was feted by Western leaders, parlaying
his personal popularity into commitments of military aid and insisting Ukraine
could prevail with a more sophisticated arsenal.
Yet for all these early successes, the war soon devolved into repeated human
waves of attacks by Russian conscripts against well-defended Ukrainian
positions. The slow drip-feed of Western weapons forced Kyiv to significantly
delay its 2023 counteroffensive. This gave Russia’s armed forces time to design
deep and elaborate defensive fortifications, minefields and tank traps.
Indeed, thanks largely to Russian efforts, Ukraine is now the most heavily
mined country in the world.
Once Ukraine’s counteroffensive commenced, its forces made little headway and
took heavy losses, especially given the lack of air support.
Facing personnel and equipment shortages, Zelensky dramatically fired his
military chief, Valerii Zaluzhny, earlier this month, opting for a new strategy
that seeks to build Ukrainian strength while blocking further Russian
advances."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
