Details: When Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in the spring of this year, the Western military knew that Kyiv did not have enough training and weapons – from shells to combat aircraft – to dislodge Russian troops. However, they hoped that Ukrainian courage and ingenuity would win.
“They haven’t. Deep and deadly minefields, extensive fortifications and Russian air power have combined to largely block significant advances by Ukrainian troops. Instead, the campaign risks descending into a stalemate with the potential to burn through lives and equipment without a major shift in momentum.” the WSJ says.
by HarakenQQ
30 comments
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Details: When Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in the spring of this year, the Western military knew that Kyiv did not have enough training and weapons – from shells to combat aircraft – to dislodge Russian troops. However, they hoped that Ukrainian courage and ingenuity would win. “They haven’t. Deep and deadly minefields, extensive fortifications and Russian air power have combined to largely block significant advances by Ukrainian troops. Instead, the campaign risks descending into a stalemate with the potential to burn through lives and equipment without a major shift in momentum.” the WSJ says.
As the likelihood of any large-scale Ukrainian breakthrough decreases this year, Washington and its allies face the disturbing prospect of a longer war requiring huge new investments in modern weapons and more training to give Kyiv a chance to win.
The publication also reminds that no Western army would try to break through the established Russian defences without controlling the sky. Ukraine’s lack of air defence and anti-aircraft weapons has allowed Russia to dominate in the skies over most of the front. If Ukraine receives the F-16 fighter jets, their impact on combat operations will depend on many factors, including the number of aircraft delivered, the complexity of their onboard equipment and the weapons systems they will be equipped with. The WSJ writes that employing modern fighters in combat will be also challenging, requiring a different level of synchronisation of Ukrainian operations.
Wow. Ukraine hasnt even committed their reserves yet or even really started to push hard and the Wall Street Journal is already running Russian propaganda Doom pieces?
Ukraine is getting close to taking Robotyne and advancing on. If they do they are within Tube Artillery range of the major Russian logistics hub at Tokmak and the only East West rail line the Russians control in Zaporizhzhia.
That in itself is a major win they cut all logistics west of Tokmak and with the Kerch Bridge once again damaged Russian forces have a real problem. Time will tell as always but its a little to early to be writing off the counter offensive.
I think ill go with ISW and general Milley’s assessment over a rag like the WSJ.
Something tells me this is largely BS
Once again a real shame that a Western source fails to mention that Ukraine is consistently achieving equipment kill ratios of 1:3, 1:4 or even approaching 1:5 in their favour despite being on the offensive and having aerial and artillery inferiority. Even if they don’t gain another inch of ground this summer, that’s still one of the most successful attritting operations in modern military history and spells long term doom for Putin’s forces. Western media just seem to prefer the ‘it’s not working’ narrative.
WSJ is owned by pro Russian Murdoch, his company was forced to pay $700mln for spreading misinformation about voting machines
This is appalling. The ONLY country capable of solving this is the US.
Get ON IT, Joe!
WSJ again, not even surprised
Garbage journalism spouting nonsense for clicks to get slivers of ad money. Nothing new, still shameful, and they still don’t care.
Ominous timing with some other BS western media I read with an article from poopy pants saying “Ukraines offensive has failed”.
Why is our media so sucky, why do they regurgitate this bollocks. Don’t give that dickwad a mouth piece would be half of the battle won…
Ahh yes WSJ trustworthy news source…
Fuck WSJ. Probably have Russian “investors”.
“May” … “might” … “could” … “potential” ….
Yeah only if every single thing goes absolutely the worst for Ukraine. And there is a sudden total breakdown of command in the Ukrainian armed forces or something, like there has been with Russia.
The Wall Street Journal is just making up bullshit pretend scenarios now. Anyone can do that.
Here’s mine:
**Russian invasion may stall due to revolt of general officers in Moscow**
MOSCOW — The government of Vladimir Putin may fall at any moment, say sources close to the Kremlin. If mid- and senior-level general officers stage a unified revolt, they could swiftly end the regime of Russia’s Supreme Commander, jeopardizing the Ukraine invasion and necessitating that the Black Sea flag-rowboat *Supreme Commander Putin* be swiftly renamed.
And while these events have not yet transpired, they might at any time, say sources. Sources also add that the potential for a rapid end to the invasion is very real. Deep and deadly internal schisms, doctrinal disputes, and a general sense that Putin is a fuckwit leading the country to strategic demise if not utter ruin all combine to largely block Russia from advancing in an invasion that, sources say, may be the most colossal fuckup in the history of fuckuppery.
For a time, some hoped that Russian bloody-mindedness, repeated attacks on Chornobaivka, and General Steiner-ov’s imminent counterattack would clear up the mess and restore Russian initiative. But Steiner-ov, sources say, was unable to muster the troops necessary for an assault. And now Russia is faced with a major shift in momentum, namely — say sources — a shift to zero momentum at all.
Russia’s best bet by far is to get the fuck out of Ukraine as fast as possible — a stance which the general staff appears to appreciate even if Putin does not ….. according to sources.
​
See I can make shit up too.
The cost of the west’s dithering and not quite full engagement to defeat Russia.
Imagine the west’s shame if Putin wins because they couldn’t fully commit.
Putin will spin as his defeat of Nato and he wouldn’t be entirely wrong
Fails to mention that most of the force is held on reserve for when they can take advantage of a breakthrough. This counteroffensive has hardly hit its stride yet, and they are still making small, but steady gains and still creating havoc for RU logistics. Ukraine is in careful surgery mode right now. Anyone that says otherwise is coping or a RU bot. The war is going precisely the way it needs to for Ukraine to keep its losses to a minimum and wait for the right time to unleash hell.
https://www.reuters.com/world/blinken-says-ukraine-has-taken-back-50-territory-that-russia-seized-2023-07-23/
Edit: not sure why I’m downvoted. The counteroffensive is intentionally slow so far, as has been said by leadership. They are using probing attacks and haven’t actually launched a full scale counteroffensive yet. It’s a fact that a significant portion of Ukraine’s force is on reserve for the right time. This is merely laying the groundwork.
I wouldn’t use the WSJ to wrap a dead fish in. Or as toilet paper.
Ah, yes, the WSJ — the leading expert on battlefield tactics, owned by Rupert Murdoch.
I wouldn’t even wipe my own ass with their prints. I’d just be adding more shit to my cheeks.
Before anyone goes into some final conclusions please be respectfully reminded about Wall Street Journal.
“”””
The WSJ is a division of Dow Jones, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp
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Yeah that evil monster can’t rest for one moment trying to help Russia.
lol WSJ is not a reliable source of info or credible journalism whatsoever
Wall Street Journal is nothing but a Russian tabloid who would gladly trumpet a Russian victory if they could openly.
They hope that Ukraine simple stop bother and settle,
They went to liberate Kuwait to reestablish another dictatorship, they wen to fight the Islamic state , but Ukraine it’s not important for them , it’s a shame
WSJ is taking on a massive and noticeable slant in everything that can be critical to getting Biden re-elected. Ukraine is one of those topics. They’re basically preaching to their choir.
more like lack of planes
Then why have i just been reading all these articles and people saying the counter offensive is about to pick up steam after the first few russian defensive positions were penetrated? Apparently, the soldiers that have been fighting are predominately the least trained soldiers with the rest being held back to be sent in with the majority of their western battle armor when the path is somewhat cleared.
No kidding, Sherlock, what gave you your first clue?
Going in against strong prepared positions…prepared because NATO, in its infinite wisdom, *gave* the Russians ample time to prepare its defenses…is a near-impossible task without air superiority. NATO is well aware of this, as standard NATO doctrine demands establishing air superiority before sending in the ground forces. NATO considers attacks into prepared positions without air superiority as suicidal.
NATO’s continuing refusal to give Ukraine the weapons it needs dooms Ukraine to spending far more lives to try to break through than is necessary or sustainable. Every life lost is a life that won’t help rebuild Ukraine, won’t contribute to the economy, won’t establish a family to replace the lost.
All the self-congratulatory and sanctimonious words about “standing with Ukraine” ring hollow in my ears. The EU and NATO aren’t “standing with Ukraine”, they are withholding the utterly and absolutely necessary equipment and stores that are required to end the war and putting ridiculous and arrogant demands upon the use of what is given.
Why?
Because, bottom line, the leadership[ of the UE, US, and NATO are all gutless wonders terrified of Russian nukes. They are willing to sacrifice as many Ukrainians as necessary to avoid fighting, or even seriously confronting Putin. They sit back and offer excuse after excuse to avoid giving Ukraine enough to ensure victory. It seems they don’t want Ukraine to lose, but they also don’t want Russia to lose too badly. Their behavior is reprehensible.
Odessa’s cultural sites are supposedly protected by UNESCO. Russia destroys them and the response? “Stiffly worded notes”, useless gestures. The UN, established to avoid and prevent wars like this, stands toothless, doing absolutely nothing to stop or confront Russia.
Russia attacks the world’s food supplies, and EU’s food supplies…which are NATO’s food supplies…and the response?
Zip.
NATO’s non-responses, withholding of aircraft, and drip-feeding what equipment they do send only encourages and enables Russia to continue the war. Impotent sanctions have had no effect on the battlefields. Sending 30 Swedish tanks (iirc, they were Swedish) that can’t be replaced wastes the tanks and the training. The combat lifespan of 30 tanks is ~1 month due to combat losses, mechanical breakdown, general wear and tear…in a month you’re down to less than half strength and no longer militarily effective as an offensive combat unit.
If the EU and NAATO were truly “standing with Ukraine”, they would have provided Ukraine with at least 500 each tanks. artillery, anti-aircraft batteries and IFVs, and at least 120 F-16s by last spring, in time to make the offensive effective. But they didn’t, and Ukraine continues to pay the price for that lack of commitment.
Again, why?
And again, the only answers are unpleasant: fear, cowardice, and indecision about who should win, how, and when.
I’ve lost all respect for the leadership of the West.
I did mean “now”. For those who aren’t too familiar with that paper, there was a time when they were a fair, politically neutral publication. Pre-current ownership.
This is how wars are lost – not from enemy fire, but from the weak within.
I am terrified if the US is losing heart, but thrilled to finally see Europe realizing what a dangerous neighbor we have.
What’s clear is as barbed wire was to offensives in WW1, mines are to offensives in Ukraine. We need to focus on helping the Ukranians mitigate this thread asap. Perhaps it will be drone fleets of cheap / repurposed old military vehicles driven enmasse by remote control ahead of an offensive (singly or perhaps with rock rakes stuck behind to maximise clearance), improvements to explosives that directly target mines including using pressure from blasts to detonate them and more of the stronger and more resistant demining vehicles/tank attachments.
Further, we also need to dramatically increase the availability of medium range, mobile air defence systems. Any breakthrough is likely to attract Russian aviation like flies to honey. That presents an opportunity to be a literal honey trap – massed medium range SAM systems could attrite Russian aviation quickly enabling a more sustained and enlarged breakthrough.
Finally, we need to give them increasingly long range weaponry that can reach further back up Russian supply lines with gradual conversion to Western fourth generation jets to be complete within a year. This gives them more capabilities combined with the ability to resupply armaments.