What Ukraine Must Do Before Counteroffensive Hits ‘Decisive Phase’

Ukrainian soldiers stand on an armoured personnel carrier (APC), not far from the front-line with Russian troops, in Izyum district, Kharkiv region on April 18, 2022. Ukraine will need to decide where to put their main assault forces before its long-anticipated counteroffensive hits its “decisive phase,” according to a new commentary.ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

“Ukraine seems to be pushing everywhere, forcing the Russians to commit somewhere,” he told Newsweek, as Kyiv likely hopes to keep hold of the flexibility to launch attacks in different positions.

If Ukraine pushes in one area of the front, it can quickly concentrate its forces in a different location which “might be the point that breaks,” Paul van Hooft, another HCSS analyst, added to Newsweek. This kind of early phase is characterized by testing for the weaknesses in Russia’s defenses, and when these points are found, Ukraine will likely try to capitalize on this as quickly as possible, van Hooft argued.

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