Ukrainian Forces Are Counterattacking On Several Areas of the Front

The plan is to keep the Russians off balance as the Kremlin's troop reinforcement and equipment shortages multiply after the failure of its Kharkiv offensive. JL 

Olena Ivashkiv reports in Ukraine Pravda:

Ukrainian troops are actively engaging in limited counterattacks in specific frontline areas. Russian infantry units are reportedly assaulting Ukrainian trench positions in single-file columns due to pervasive Ukrainian minefields and poor assault training. Ukrainian forces may be able to conduct counteroffensive operations even while largely on the defensive depending on the arrival of Western aid.

Ukrainian troops are trying to seize the tactical initiative by conducting limited counterattacks in certain areas of the front; and they will be able to counterattack, depending on the arrival of Western aid.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Western and US officials predict that Ukrainian forces will primarily be on the defensive for the next six months, with a large-scale counteroffensive not expected until 2025. Nonetheless, Ukrainian troops are actively engaging in limited counterattacks in specific frontline areas. The extent and timing of their counteroffensive operations will hinge significantly on the arrival of Western support.

A senior NATO official, as reported by The New York Times on 11 July, indicated that Ukraine needs to receive additional Western security aid and deploy more forces to the front before it can mount substantial counteroffensive operations, which are anticipated to be delayed until 2025.

ISW continues to assess that Russian forces are unlikely to achieve meaningful operational advances in Ukraine. Russian leader Vladimir Putin's strategy appears to focus on slow, steady territorial gains rather than rapid, significant maneuvers.

To address manpower issues, Ukraine is currently forming several new brigades, which could be crucial in shifting the initiative. The timing and scale of Ukraine's ability to contest the initiative will depend largely on the Western security assistance provided to equip these new brigades.

 

Western and US officials reportedly assess that Ukrainian forces will continue to be on the defensive for the next six months and will not be able to conduct a large-scale counteroffensive operation until 2025. Ukrainian forces are already attempting to contest the tactical initiative in limited counterattacks in select sectors of the front, however, and Ukrainian forces may be able to conduct limited counteroffensive operations even while largely on the defensive depending on the arrival of Western aid.

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