Main rail lines, from what I've seen online - controlling that area cuts off Russia's supply linesI guess there must have been some high value targets close to the border?
No one apart from the Ukrainians in charge know what they are trying to achieve as they take operational security very seriously. Everyone is currently falling over themselves to come up with a reason for this small but significant offensive and the Ukrainians seem happy to let everyone guess.I'm not sure what Ukraine is hoping to achieve. I guess there must have been some high value targets close to the border? Reports suggest that it was to force Russia to redeploy troops to the region but others say Russia already had a military buildup in the area and the attack was to disrupt that. Ultimately it's the side with the larger force that can afford to fight on multiple fronts and that is Russia.
This has turned into a meatgrinder and Russia simply has more men and material to throw at the situation. Ukraine may be ground down even if NATO allies send greater supplies, which is dubious at best. A Trump presidency will all but assure Russian victory, even if much more limited than they originally intended. Europe needs to step up and stop relying on the USA and show they can army Ukraine.
Will take your word for it. I was told YouTube is now banned but if you know better than ok.YouTube is not banned,it was slow downed, still works in a lot of regions. And they had it in plans for many years (I guess in order to attract more people to RuTube and VK platforms).
I won't be surprised if the Kursk situation was allowed expressly and it all won't end up good for Ukraine first of all.Waiting for a new mobilisation in Russia in September-October..
I'm not sure what Ukraine is hoping to achieve. I guess there must have been some high value targets close to the border? Reports suggest that it was to force Russia to redeploy troops to the region but others say Russia already had a military buildup in the area and the attack was to disrupt that. Ultimately it's the side with the larger force that can afford to fight on multiple fronts and that is Russia.
Also you have to consider these are Ukraine's best armoured Brigades fighting in a very NATO way against Russian units mainly with second line troops (conscripts that can't be deployed in Ukraine and Tick tock Chechens) it's the first time since the Kharviv offensive in 2022 that the Ukrainians are being able to do what they have been trained to do in the UK and other NATO countries. If the Russians fall short here and can't contain this then it will not look good for them. They have been throwing bodies into the Donbass and gaining a few kilometres here and there and they say this is successful. Then the Ukrainians show up in Russia and show what a decent army can do. Problem is going to be Russian air power but the Ukrainians hit a couple of glide bomb storage facilities before they invaded so fingers crossedIf they can cut the supply lines to that troop build up, then they open up options for trying to destroy them in place.
At the very least, it completely derails the original attack plan and seeks to take the initiative.
Especially if the Russians are rather disorganised and get all or bulk of men and equipment moved in first, and then look to push in consumables before commencing operations.
A few things to ponder include (i) how far can they extend? (ii) have they the discipline to avoid over-extension? (iii) are they intending to hold the ground? (iv) if so, is it sustainable?