Russia Misses Key Deadline Ahead of Ukraine Counteroffensive

Newsweek ^ | 4/2/2023 | Ellie Cook

[marcusmaximus]

Russian forces in Ukraine have failed to meet a key deadline for progress in eastern Ukraine ahead of a long-touted counteroffensive from Kyiv, according to a new assessment.

Moscow did not manage to "achieve the Kremlin's goals" of exerting control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions by March 31, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank said on Saturday.

The two regions, which collectively make up the Donbas, saw fighting between Kyiv and Russian-backed separatists break out in 2014. They have seen many of the heaviest clashes since the start of the all-out war in February 2022.

[marcusmaximus]

[ealgeone]

Take away their nukes and Russia is a paper tiger.

[marcusmaximus]

[marcusmaximus]

[ealgeone]

Kinda wonder if we’re in the same boat.

[JonPreston]

Russia is winning too slowly

[marcusmaximus]

I hope not.

[ealgeone]

Me too.

[marcusmaximus]

[Vermont Lt]

Those 500,000 new Russian troops must be getting bored waiting to cross into Ukraine. //sarc

[BobL]

“Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s intelligence service, said Moscow had fallen short of its objectives in “taking Donbas by the end of March.””

That’s a new one - Ukraine setting deadlines for Russia to liberate their country, from themselves. Maybe they’re complaining about being stuck with Zelensky longer than they hoped?

[marcusmaximus]

[Widget Jr]

The big and "uncool" problems no one is talking about is the weather, winter and mud season. Over the last few days Bakhmut has had the biggest snowfall in a decade. That impedes movement on both sides. Russia's ability to advance with support is more limited, which favors the defenders.

Before that, there was the and is the ongoing mud season of spring, before that a mild winter where the ground was not frozen solid. While the press, pundits and experts have made predictions, the fact is for the last six months getting around on the front lines has favored holding and defending more than attacking. Its like the Revolutionary War, where historians try to make the long periods of nothing happening on the battlefield sound vitally important.

Ukraine held, got equipment, and trained. Russia mobilized untrained conscripts and attacked, instead of holding and correcting issues with training, logistics, command and control. Because of the weather and equipment issues, neither side may try to attack until the end of April or May.

[FlyingEagle]

Time for peace.

[struggle]

They just captured central Bakhmut yesterday

[marcusmaximus]

Putin is desperate not to be humiliated at this May 9th "Victory Parade" in Red Square like he was at last year's "Victory Parade."

[kiryandil]

[marcusmaximus]

[Allegra]

“Help! I’m winning!” never fails to elicit a good laugh from me. 😆

[marcusmaximus]