Attritional fight akin to WWI: Russia making ‘steady incremental advance’ in Ukraine’s north, south

A fire broke out at a Russian military airfield hundreds of kilometres from the Ukrainian border, state media reported early Friday, with authorities ordering evacuations in the area due to a “massive” drone attack. The attack in the Lipetsk region came as pro-Kyiv forces pressed a new cross-border offensive in neighbouring Kursk, in what appears to be the most significant attack on Russian soil since the conflict in Ukraine began. As Ukraine continues a major cross-border offensive in the north to counter relentless Russian shelling and aerial bomb attacks in frontline Ukrainian regions, FRANCE 24’s Mark Owen is joined by Frank Ledwidge, former UK Military Intelligence Officer, Senior Lecturer in Strategy at Portsmouth University and a Visiting Fellow for the Transatlantic Dialogue Centre Think Tank.
#Ukraine #Russia #war

🔔 Subscribe to France 24 now: https://f24.my/YTen
🔴 LIVE – Watch FRANCE 24 English 24/7 here: https://f24.my/YTliveEN

🌍 Read the latest International News and Top Stories: https://www.france24.com/en/

Like us on Facebook: https://f24.my/FBen
Follow us on X (Twitter): https://f24.my/Xen
Browse the news in pictures on Instagram: https://f24.my/IGen
Discover our TikTok videos: https://f24.my/TKen
Get the latest top stories on Telegram: https://f24.my/TGen

39 comments

  3. @ 3:48 "not even the Americans…"
    1. Ukraine is under no obligation to ask permission from America
    2.Who knows if America was informed or not? Politicians are not candid.

  4. Game plan of Nato. Nato arms are using inside Kursk. Western betrayed with Russia for their commitment that western arms only use in Kharkhib and Belgarod region. Now Russia have get a chance to enter summy within one or two month. Ukraine will loose their elite force hundreads tank and Vehicle in Kursk. Already 85 tanks and Vehicle lost. Who entered could not back their home , I think. New frontline help Russia for rapid advance across the frontline. 10:18😅 10:18

  8. Its a war now,..its no longer a special military operation.they will march forward towards border of nato members and nuclear war is days away frm happening

  9. It's a shame that the West is still not willing to weaponize Ukraine sufficiently to defeat Russia. The weak US security policy brought the world to the Chaos it's in. If the USA really want Ukraine to win, they would already be on the doorsteps of Moscow.

  10. Steady Advances? Yep – "incremental"? FN French Bullcrap, try to be clear, by the centimeter & meter – costing Dozens of Armored Units a week and a thousand troops per day. Its Called defense in depth, and the Ukrainians – who you thought and said had no chance – are holding out at 10 to 1 odds.

  13. What is the use of unclear bomb when you cannot use it to protect your people. The America is an accomplice…. What is Putin waiting for?

  23. Of course Ukraine didn't tell anyone about the attack, last time it was utterly spoiled by every news outlet everywhere. Also the wests role is more that of a sponsor than an ally if we are honest. We put up the money and go do something else. If we are going to call ourselves allies, we should be sending troops. Not that i nessecarily think we should, but lets not kid ourselves – Ukraine doesn't need to inform anyone about it's war time plans.

  25. Why should the Ukranians spread secrets to allies who are not involved in combat. Any staff (Hungary, Turkey?) could "leak" the secret to the Russians.

  27. American generals know about every Ukrainian move. HIMIRS is guided by US and Ukraine have used it during the recent invasion in Kursk

  28. You fail to say how no credible responses from Kremlin Have occurred since 1991. They signed treaties then disavowed them They say interest rate 2.5% when in fact it's 17. Their SFB network has infiltrated governments around the world including the United States and Britain.
    How on the heck do you expect them to keep a secret?
    So I disagree with you. Someone inside Washington Or 10 Downing street Would divulge any preknowledge away To Putin.. His spies are everywhere.

    Right behind " logistics" is "surprise: in winning any war And the AFU has proven itself to be Incomparable in Innovation, Rectitude, And cleverness when it comes to battle tactics.

    It is the West who have for nearly 3 years tied Ukraine's hands behind its back Slow walking aid,Continually showing a weak posture to a bully With all of its red lines.

    Had nato and EU taken a hard position 2 years ago and gone all in this war would be over. Instead it has the stamp of Chamberlain all over it By appeasing the bully.

    Secrecy. That is the AFU mission. And they don't trust Britain or Washington to keep it. They're Right.

  29. Frank welcome back to the space. It is becoming clear that when narratives are required Frank and Mr Ramadi are the go to guys from the UK side and Marina is used to deliver more sober analysis when things are not going well. When this operation is done Frank will be retired to wherever he retires to, as for Mr Ramadi, it looks like France24 DW just couldn't take his rather "jovial" demeanor whenever he was called upon to offer some analysis.

    As for the Kursk situation, The so called Krisky bridge-head in Kherson comes to mind.

  31. Took him eight minutes to get to the truth that’s all this is a distraction and act of desperation the Ukrainians front lines are collapsing specifically in the south, and when that happens game over! NATO and the collective West understand that Ukraine cannot recover its lost territories and that the war is lost. I repeat what I and true not bought analyst been saying for months. "last desperate throw of the dice" by Ukraine to try to reverse the course of events.

  32. I find it difficult to imagine your guest believes that Kyiv didn’t tell Washington. Maybe they did or maybe they didn’t. Don’t believe everything we are told. Seriously. This is war. Secrets are a treasured asset.

  33. Zelenskyy reviewed old treaties and noticed that the Russian region of Kursk was once apart of Ukraine. He asks all Russian forces pull out of what should rightfully be Ukrainian territory as the UAF works to right this historical injustice

  36. Russia has 700,000 soldiers in Ukraine & another 850,000 soldiers in Russia. There are 500k volunteers & 430k Conscripts. There are some 5K tanks in Ukraine & another 7K in Russia, some are brand spankin new. You'll figure it out as Ukraine continues to retreat.

  37. Ukraine desperately need some positive news even if it is temporary in order to justify further western military support.And they know its a sacrifice….

Leave a Reply