Preparations for a counter-offensive in Kherson for the first time allowed Ukraine to begin actively shaping the course of the war.
Ukraine is blocking the strategic initiative in the war. The Russian Federation is being forced to redistribute forces and change priorities in response to Ukrainian counteroffensive operations. This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
It was noted that the Russian forces were increasingly moving personnel and equipment to the Kherson region and the western part of the Zaporozhye region at the expense of their forces in the direction of Slavyansk and Seversk, which they apparently refused to capture.
In addition, the Russian Federation will redeploy military equipment, in particular, artillery and aircraft, to Crimea from other regions of Ukraine. Russian forces have previously withdrawn or suspended offensive operations in Kharkiv and the south to prioritize the capture of the Luhansk region, but they did so on their own initiative due to a change in their commanders’ priorities.
According to military analysts, the Russian forces in this case seem to be reacting to the threat of a Ukrainian counter-offensive in the Kherson region, rather than deliberately choosing the targets on which to focus their efforts. Although Ukrainian forces repulsed a Russian attempt to seize Kyiv at the beginning of the war, the Russians were free to focus their operations in the east.
“Ukraine’s preparations for the counter-offensive in Kherson and the initial operations of this counter-offensive, combined with the sharp weakening of Russian forces in general, seem to allow Ukraine for the first time to actively begin to shape the course of the war,” ISW said.
Earlier, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War said Ukrainian counteroffensives would not be limited to the Kherson region and would likely take place across the southern axis.
According to experts, the de-occupation of the right bank of the Kherson region at the end of September is a real task for the Ukrainian military.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.