The situation on the Ukrainian front is complicated by a shortage of soldiers and weapons, which paves the way for the "rapid" advance of Russian troops, The New York Times notes. In particular, the lack of proper fortifications that could prevent the enemy's offensive is emphasized.
Ugledar became a vivid example of this problem. After the capture of the city, the Russian troops were able to advance 10 km to the north in just a week. It is noted that the region is dominated by open terrain, where Ukrainian defense lines are practically absent, which makes it difficult to form a strong resistance.
Pasi Paroinen, an expert at Finland's Black Bird Group, points out that Russian forces have long passed the old front line and large minefields that previously delayed the 2023 offensive on Vugledar. The military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine point out that the recent successes of the Russian Federation were made possible by a "dead end" on the front, when last year's unsuccessful attacks gradually weakened the Ukrainian army, as a result of which their troops became stretched and unable to hold all their positions.
In addition, Ukraine has weakened its defensive positions in the Donbas, transferring experienced units to the Kursk region of Russia. This situation, according to Paroinen, creates the impression of a constant game of "beat the mole", where new crisis points arise faster than they can be dealt with.
Vincent Tourre, a specialist at the French Foundation for Strategic Studies, emphasizes that the defense of Ukraine is becoming increasingly weak, and the terrain is increasingly favorable for Russian offensive operations. He also points to the improvement of Russia's military capabilities through the use of guided bombs.
The situation is complicated by a serious shortage of personnel in the Ukrainian forces, which leads to a significant numerical superiority of Russian forces on the battlefield.
Paroinen believes that Russia's recent rapid advance confirms the general perception of Ukrainian forces: reserves are small, many high-quality units are stuck in the Kursk region, and Russia has enough forces to exploit weak points in Ukrainian lines.
