The West is confused by Ukraine’s new strategy

New York Times Citing analysis by US and British officials, Kiev’s main goal is to advance to the Sea of ​​Azov to cut off an important land route connecting Crimea and Russia. However, Ukrainian forces are now deployed more on the eastern front, opposite the city of Bakhmut, than on the important southern front.

US and British officials expressed “confusion” when Kiev insisted on maintaining a large number of troops in the east while the West demanded a clear and consistent strategy.

Western officials argue that although in theory, Ukraine has enough troops to retake the city of Bakhmut. However, this would “lead to huge losses with little strategic gain”.

“US advisers advise Ukraine to focus on advancing towards Melitopol and breaking through minefields and other Russian defenses, although this option may cause certain losses in terms of weapons and soldiers.” The New York Times said.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, after two months of counter-attack, the Ukrainian army lost about 45,000 soldiers and more than 5,000 vehicles without being able to penetrate the Russian defense system.

An unnamed US official said: “Ukraine must have a significant change in tactics, then the progress of the counterattack can change.”

On the other hand, the source quoted another expert as saying, “even that is too little, it’s too late for Ukraine to reverse the counter-attack”.

In a phone call on August 10, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, along with his British counterpart Tony Radakin and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Christopher Cavoli called on the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ukrainian page Valery Zaluzhny focuses on the southern front. Mr. Zaluzhny is said to have agreed to the proposal.

However, just five days later, President Volodymyr Zelensky inspected the Soledar battlefield near Bakhmut, visiting the Azov battalion to present the importance of the eastern front.

According to New York Times, Ukraine has begun to redeploy its forces to the south, but even the recovery of the most seasoned units has not been straightforward after suffering heavy casualties.

Kiev now has to resort to the last strategic reserve forces. Western analysts fear Ukrainian forces are likely to reach their limits by mid-September.

Ukraine launched a major counter-offensive in early June. Despite being equipped with more weapons by the West, Ukraine’s counter-offensive campaign has so far not achieved a breakthrough. Many Western-aided heavy weapons such as tanks and armored fighting vehicles were destroyed.

This forced Kiev to adjust counter-attack tactics to limit losses while calling on the West to support modern fighters to increase air defense capabilities to support ground forces.