Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, has told US officials that Ukrainian forces are on the cusp of a breakthrough in the counteroffensive.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Quote from the WSJ: “It isn’t too late for Ukraine to make gains, according to U.S. officials. Ukrainian commanders also say that time hasn’t yet run out on their counteroffensive, and Zaluzhny [sic] has told U.S. officials his forces are on the cusp of a breakthrough.”
Details: The WSJ reported that Ukrainian and US officials have been engaged in an “intense behind-the-scenes debate for weeks over the strategy and tactics for reviving Kyiv’s slow-moving counteroffensive”.
US military officials have been urging their Ukrainian counterparts to concentrate their forces to try to break through Russian defences and push to the Sea of Azov.
According to the WSJ, “Kyiv has made some adjustments in recent weeks, but the two sides are still at odds about how to turn the tables on the Russians in the limited time they have before winter sets in.”
The advice offered by US officials is based on the assumption that the more than $43 billion in weapons the US has provided to Ukraine is sufficient for this offensive but is unlikely to be renewed at the same level next year.
“We built up this mountain of steel for the counteroffensive. We can’t do that again. [This opportunity] doesn’t exist,” one former US official said.
Meanwhile, Zaluzhnyi stressed that this war was not a “counterinsurgency”. This is Kursk,” he said, referring to the major World War II battle between Germany and the Soviet Union.
After US officials warned Ukrainian military commanders against scattering their efforts, the Ukrainians adjusted their strategy and shifted to defending the eastern part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. This shift allowed them to preserve their forces for a major offensive elsewhere and to limit the use of artillery.
But US officials say Ukrainian forces are still too dispersed for a concentrated offensive to the south, with numerous brigades deployed in the east; they also think the Ukrainians are still not combining the use of artillery, mechanised units, and mine-clearing efforts effectively.
© 2023 Ukrainska Pravda
Yes!
My advice: Fire everything you got at the invaders at once instead of salami tactics allowing the enemy to reinforce.
If true, why would he say anything and secondly the US hasn’t exactly been great on tactics or we would have had all the weapons and all equipment before the orcs had a chance to build up defenses.
“We built up this mountain of steel for the counteroffensive. We can’t do that again. [This opportunity] doesn’t exist,” one former US official said.”
That is an outrageous quote if true. The US spent 3% of its defence budget on Ukraine. That’s not a “mountain of steel.” A “mountain of steel” is what the putinaZis have.
The quote is basically saying “do or die; if you fail you are on your own.”
That is frankly disgusting. I hope and pray that no one in the Biden administration really thinks that way.
Of course we all hope and pray for a big breakthrough this year, but that won’t be the end of it.
The defenders need to hold all the ground they take and prepare for next year’s counteroffensive, which is now inevitable, thanks to the recalcitrance of the allies.
This administration and the Pentagon are notorious liars, almost on the same level as the Kremlin. We have mountains of steel and mountains of aluminum sitting around uselessly in various states, baking in the sun. If even only 10% of it were usable and refurbished for Ukraine, this would still be more than what we’ve already sent.
Yup!
I am really annoyed by the attitude of the U.S. military.
They are propagating an approach that clearly doesn’t work as heavily relying on mechanised brigades led to heavy casualties in the beginning.
Especially without air support this is really hard to pull off. Also, the newly established assault brigades performed a lot worse than the West expected.
Now Ukraine is fighting in a way they have experience with and lead to considerable less casualties among the ranks.
They are mostly relying on small infantry brigades and special forces, supported by artillery. Yes it is slow, but more effective.
Also I don’t get all the whining about Bakhmut. Yes, it is taking a lot of resources. But this goes in both ways. Russia’s best troops are fighting in Bakhmut and dying in masses.
Ukraine could retreat from the area, but that will create problems elsewhere.
And I think the loss of Bakhmut will have great psychological impact in Russia.
I think the Americans should be a lot more humble and stop telling the Ukrainians what to do, but only help them and offer them assistance.
Instead of whining like jerk kids on a boring trip, they could pull their heads out of their asses and give Ukraine what it’s been asking for, for over a year now. This would get things moving faster. What they are doing with their mouthing is not only counterproductive, but downright stupid.
Zaluzhnyi is always right.
So let’s go!
“The Armed Forces of 🇺🇦Ukraine crossed the main first line of defense of the 🇷🇺Russians, – Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the 🇺🇸United States, General Mark Milley.”