Report reveals Ukraine forced to halt counter-offensive after heavy casualties

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For more than 400 days, Ukraine has stubbornly resisted the Russian offensive war. Originally, Russian President Vladimir Putin (70) planned to conquer Kiev within three days. This resulted in bitter battles of attrition with high casualties on both sides.

Just a few weeks ago, Ukraine launched a major counter-offensive. The goal: the reconquest of the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia. However, not everything went as planned. About 20 percent of the weapons and vehicles used by Ukraine on the battlefield were damaged and destroyed in the first two weeks of the counteroffensive, the New York Times reveals.

This includes weapons supplied to Ukraine from the West, such as main battle tanks or troop transporters. The high destruction rate is mainly due to Russia’s good preparation for the attacks, the newspaper reports. Moscow’s troops had many months to prepare for the attack. Large parts of the front line are being mined. Anti-tank mines and troops buried in vast trenches make the Ukrainian advance even more difficult and also cause destruction.

A third of the vehicles were lost

According to military experts, the advance will be difficult, especially over the first 25 kilometers behind the front. In recent months, Russian army units have reclaimed a lot of areas in this area.

This is also reflected in open source data and estimates from Western secret services, which the Times was able to evaluate. Accordingly, the 47th Brigade, one of three units armed by the West, received 99 heavily armored “Bradley” troop carriers.

Data from the military documentation platform “Oryx” now shows that by the end of June about a third of all 47th Brigade’s “Bradley” vehicles had been lost. Most of the 28 vehicles reported lost were blown up and some were abandoned or damaged.

A third of the “Leopard” tanks supplied by the West are said to have already been destroyed, abandoned or damaged. Most of the “Leos” were lost in the first week of the counter-offensive.

Only slow progress

After the loss-making start, the Ukrainian army command reacted, the Times reports. The soldiers of Kiev interrupted the advance and the military leadership had to look beyond the books. In the meantime, according to the Times, citing US military officials, Ukrainian troops are moving much more skillfully and consciously through the minefields at the front.

However, the advance into the Russian-occupied territories remains difficult for the Ukrainian soldiers. In the south of the country, Ukraine has been trying for some time to advance to the Sea of ​​Azov and split the occupied territories in two. Kiev’s troops are advancing, but only slowly. Of the approximately 100 kilometers between the frontline and the coast, the Ukrainian army managed to save only about 10 kilometers. (zis)

Source: Blick