2024-08-19 23:08:24
The pace at which Ukraine advanced deep into Russian territory proves that Ukraine has learned from its previous mistakes. Kiev relied on a key factor in its attack on the Kursk region: the element of surprise itself.
Ukrainians call for silence regarding the counter-offensive. The spot then appeared on television in Crimea. | Video: Associated Press, Telegram/DPSU
Kiev claims to have gained control of about 1,000 square kilometers in a matter of days, almost as much territory as the Kremlin has seized so far this year in Ukraine.
An analysis by the New York Times explains what tactics Ukraine chose in the cross-border attack. The Ukrainian military, in cooperation with experts, studied successful campaigns in modern history and found that the winning side often did not publicly release any information before the attack, according to the paper. The Ukrainians also transferred this doctrine to the soldiers at the front.
A deputy commander of one of the Ukrainian brigades, identified by the New York Times as Lt. Col. Artem, said that most senior officers received only three days’ notice of the upcoming offensive, with soldiers in non-command positions being informed just one day in advance.
According to the analysis, Ukraine also tried to disguise the concentration of its forces along the border by spreading them in houses in different villages and pretending that the troops were conducting exercises. According to the American newspaper, the most remarkable thing is that even the highest Ukrainian officials themselves remained silent about the offensive. Even days after news of troops advancing deep into Russia.
Russia initially reported that Ukraine had sent about forty armored vehicles and a thousand troops, although reports from the ground suggested that the invasion force was much larger. Meanwhile, Ukraine has released only scraps of its operations in Kursk, including its profits. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not admit the attack until five days after the invasion.
Kiev’s current strategy contrasts with preparations for its failed counteroffensive last summer, when Ukrainian forces ran into Russian defenses in the south and managed to retake only about 518 square kilometers of territory. At the time, Ukraine boldly declared that its main objective was to cut off Russia’s eastern front from its supply lines through Crimea.
Before the attack, she even released a “teaser” for her counterattack, in which she told people, perhaps with ironic intent, that she was keeping her attack a secret. For Kiev, the attack took so long since its announcement that it began to be said that the entire counter-offensive was a ruse. Finally, it was launched, but, as we already know, it was not successful.
Zelenskyy stated that the Russians probably found out about their plans in advance as the reason for the fiasco. “The Russians knew where we were going to attack. How did they know? How did they get this information? I can’t tell you. Only time will tell,” he told reporters at the time.
This time, however, it is certain that Ukraine deliberately kept the offensive under wraps. To the extent that it had to hastily evacuate its own border villages when Russia struck back.
“There should be executions for this. There is harsh criticism in Russia after the massacre of soldiers in Kursk (full article with video here)
Footage shows a destroyed Russian convoy near the Russian village of Oktyabrskoye, 35 kilometers from the border | Video: Reuters