Russia Has a New Enemy in the Ukraine War (Not NATO)

Mud Comes to Ukraine War: Russian forces are scrambling to make small tactical gains in Ukraine before the approaching muddy season halts large-scale mechanized operations. The shift to positional warfare through rapid maneuvers underscores Russia’s struggle to achieve strategic success despite recent incremental advances.

-According to the Institute for the Study of War, the pace of progress remains slow and operational gains are minimal compared to Russia’s initial attack. Meanwhile, systemic corruption problems continue to plague Russia’s military as Major General Alexander Ogloblin faces arrest for a second time on embezzlement charges.

-This stagnation and internal dysfunction paints a challenging picture for Moscow’s military ambitions in Ukraine.

Russian Troops Race Against Ukraine’s Muddy Season as Tactical Gains Stagnate

Russian forces may be making some progress on the ground, but at the strategic level the Russian military is moving at a snail’s pace, revealing its inability to conduct modern maneuver warfare on a large scale.

Moscow is throwing its men and weapons systems into the meat grinder to make some tactical gains before bad weather prevents free movement.

A Push Before the Mud

Every year there is a period between the end of autumn and the beginning of winter. Ukrainian When the rain turns the ground into a muddy pit. Each time this happens, the battlefield becomes largely inaccessible to large-scale mechanized forces and operations grind to a halt. Of course, clashes continue, but it is much more difficult for both sides to make progress due to adverse weather conditions. Russian army trying to make some progress before muddy season arrives.

“Russia’s pace of progress Ukrainian It has increased in recent weeks but remains consistent with slow, positional warfare rather than rapid mechanized maneuver; “This highlights how generally stagnant Russia’s progress has been after more than two and a half years of war.” evaluated in its latest operational estimate of the conflict.

The upcoming muddy season in Ukraine will turn the battlefield into a swamp and seriously disrupt mechanized operations. As we consider here National Interest before, Russian army He’s probably trying to use the time before the start of the muddy season to make some tactical gains.

“Available Russia’s pace of progress Consistent with ISW’s recent assessment that Russian command likely gave the order. Russian forces The Institute for the Study of War stated that they planned to significantly increase the tempo of mechanized attacks throughout the theater before the full onset of muddy ground conditions in the autumn months.

When winter comes and the ground freezes, mechanized operations will be possible once again. But until temperatures drop, both sides will be at the mercy of rain and mud.

But still Russian forces They have taken over some smaller urban centers and are closing in on more; Their progress at the operational level is minimal and in no way comparable to their initial progress in the first weeks of the conflict.

“Fast Russian advancing deep Ukraine regionIt characterized the first month of the year, including the temporary capture of large parts of Kiev, Chernihiv, Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts. Full-scale invasion of RussiaMore recent Russian advances have been characterized by small-scale, localized, tactical advances, the Institute for the Study of War notes.

Corruption Accusations

Meanwhile, Russia It may be engaged in the largest conflict since the end of World War II, but its armed forces remain dysfunctional.

Amid the conflict that kills more than 1,300 people every day, a senior Russian officer has been arrested on corruption charges.

General Major Alexander Ogloblin, former confidant of former Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu, was arrested for the second time on charges of embezzlement.

About the Author

Stavros Atlamazoğlu He is an experienced defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Greek Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army Headquarters). He holds a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and a master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His works were exhibited Business Content, sandboxxAnd SOFREP.

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