The fear of the Russian ‘spring offensive’ was great, but so far there has been little sign of it. Equally high were expectations of a major Ukrainian counter-attack, which also failed to materialize. Both warring parties are still not progressing at this point. But the reason for this is not only the muddy thaw bottom in eastern Ukraine, explains Colonel Markus Reisner, commander of the guard in Vienna, in the “Krone” interview.
“Every time one of the two sides goes on the offensive, the losses are huge and the advance stops,” Reisner has analyzed in recent weeks. “Should there ever be a major offensive by the Russians or Ukrainians, this is already a bitter foretaste.”
Failed attack in Zaporizhia
The reconnaissance attacks seen so far on both sides usually ended quickly with a retreat. If the vehicles don’t sink into the muddy ground, they get stuck in minefields, ambushes or barricades. Most recently, the Ukrainians, trying to advance south in the Zaporizhia area, were hit the hardest – coming under Russian artillery fire.
An indication that both sides have perfected their defensive positions. With light anti-tank weapons and artillery, such large areas can be effectively defended – but not taken.
“Rasputiza” follows “General Winter”
Add to that the bad weather conditions: the warm temperatures have thawed the frozen ground, heavy vehicles get stuck and a rapid advance is also hampered by the infantry. “The dreaded “Rasputiza,” the spring-fall mud period, is in full swing,” says Reisner. Unaffected by: The relentless drone warfare, which has kept ground forces on edge since the beginning of the conflict.
NATO: Failed Russians without progress
NATO experts agree, especially with regard to Russia’s forward-thinking ambitions: “Nothing more will come,” was a senior official’s succinct assessment over the weekend. The fighting for Russia has been unsuccessful since the fall. The standoff in the town of Bakhmut, which has still not been taken, would lead to major losses and little territorial gain on the Russian side. “This is the Russian spring offensive. That’s exactly what she looks like,” the expert said in an interview with the German newspaper Bild.
Second Bachmut is emerging
Creeping progress has been seen near the disputed city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine. The Defense Ministry in London said on Monday, based on intelligence findings, that Russian units have made slight gains over the past three weeks. The situation is similar to the situation around the town of Bachmut further north. Located just north of the large city of Donetsk, Avdiivka has been a front-line city since the start of the Donbass struggle in 2014. According to the ministry, the city has now been largely destroyed.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
