In the conditions of the numerical superiority of the enemy, Ukraine is forced to resort to the tactics of slow retreat with fierce battles aimed at exhausting the aggressor. About this informs The New York Times, analyzing the progress of the war over the past year.
In recent months, Ukraine has lost control of several major cities, each of which surrendered after prolonged fighting. The first among them was Maryinka in December-January, then Avdiyivka, and most recently – Vugledar.
Despite the impression of external observers, who may perceive this retreat as a sign of defeat, Ukrainian military experts refute this. According to them, the battle at the front is not for control of the territory, but for the exhaustion of the enemy in order to break his ability to continue fighting.
The Ukrainian side, having fewer resources and weapons, is forced to “exchange territory for Russia’s losses,” explains Mykola Beleskov, an analyst at the Institute of Strategic Studies of Ukraine. The strategy is to withdraw from the cities the enemy aims to capture after the Russian forces have suffered maximum casualties.
“This war will not be decided by control of Vugledar or other tactical cities on the front line. The main thing is how many troops Russia lost trying to capture Vugledar, compared to Ukrainian losses during its defense.”, — noted a military analyst from Vienna, Franz-Stefan Gadi.
