Both. They started using trucks and motorcycles in October in Avdiivka. They've since used hundreds of 'golf carts' and motorcycles. Most armored vehicles are used solely to bring the infantry to the front line quickly. When infantry walks, it gives Ukraine more time to engage them with mortars, artillery and drones.
They are causing a lot more Russian casualties than they are losing, and Russia is losing a lot of equipment. So there are some advantages to defending right now.
As for offense, it's best when you have overwhelming firepower when attacking and the fight is a bit too even right now. Even if Russia runs out of vehicles, they'll have a lot of infantry and artillery. Add in defensive positions and minefields and Ukrainian casualties can rise, just as they did last summer. On top of that, Ukraine has yet to demonstrate widespread multi-brigade operations with the ability to exploit after a breakthrough. The only exploitations they conducted is when the Russians ran away (Kharkiv) or withdrew (Kherson). There was an opportunity for exploitation at Robotyne that they could not manage.
It's difficult to develop this capabilities during war time without some sort of sanctuary to practice the concepts.
I don't see a lot of aimed fire in the videos, just rounds flying downrange, so more of that. I don't know what effect the environmental conditions will have on the chemical or how persistent it would be. The longest I wore a mask was 12 hours in moderate temperatures and I had puddles of condensation in my eyelets and around my chin. I also wonder about the effects of the chemicals in your clothing and gear after the cloud is gone because we know the effects of tear gas.
I'm glad he has a mask, though. I wonder how many do.
So less and less Russian vehicles being used.
Have they started to run out or are they simply keeping them in reserve?
Both. They started using trucks and motorcycles in October in Avdiivka. They've since used hundreds of 'golf carts' and motorcycles. Most armored vehicles are used solely to bring the infantry to the front line quickly. When infantry walks, it gives Ukraine more time to engage them with mortars, artillery and drones.
Thank you , Don. The Ukrainians are defending. But not attacking, it seems.
They are causing a lot more Russian casualties than they are losing, and Russia is losing a lot of equipment. So there are some advantages to defending right now.
As for offense, it's best when you have overwhelming firepower when attacking and the fight is a bit too even right now. Even if Russia runs out of vehicles, they'll have a lot of infantry and artillery. Add in defensive positions and minefields and Ukrainian casualties can rise, just as they did last summer. On top of that, Ukraine has yet to demonstrate widespread multi-brigade operations with the ability to exploit after a breakthrough. The only exploitations they conducted is when the Russians ran away (Kharkiv) or withdrew (Kherson). There was an opportunity for exploitation at Robotyne that they could not manage.
It's difficult to develop this capabilities during war time without some sort of sanctuary to practice the concepts.
Dear Donald, thank you for detailed and thoughtful reporting!
Infantry-only and chemical warfare, what an unpleasant throwback. But happy Ukr is holding the line.
Thanks for this Don, again an interesting report
Ugh, wearing a gas mask in that heat... and good luck hitting anything you try to shoot.
I don't see a lot of aimed fire in the videos, just rounds flying downrange, so more of that. I don't know what effect the environmental conditions will have on the chemical or how persistent it would be. The longest I wore a mask was 12 hours in moderate temperatures and I had puddles of condensation in my eyelets and around my chin. I also wonder about the effects of the chemicals in your clothing and gear after the cloud is gone because we know the effects of tear gas.
I'm glad he has a mask, though. I wonder how many do.