The Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Reveals Plan to Break Deadlock in Trench Warfare with Russia.
In a comprehensive essay, Valerii Zaluzhny, the Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, outlines the hurdles Ukraine must overcome to transition from the current stalemate in trench warfare against Russia. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Zaluzhny notes that the war has “progressively morphed into a positional form”. He suggests several strategies for Ukraine to break this impasse, such as securing air dominance, breaching minefields, enhancing counter-battery efficiency, forming and training necessary reserves, and advancing electronic warfare capabilities.
Front Lines Defined by Minefields
Zaluzhny attributes the ongoing trench warfare, characterized by both sides solidifying their stances without making swift advances, to technological and tactical parity and the widespread use of minefields by both Russian and Ukrainian forces. He views Russia’s challenges, including substantial aviation losses, as an opportunity for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Need for Western Arms
ISW reports that Zaluzhny asserts that Ukraine could gain an edge through the utilization of Western missiles and artillery, along with Russia’s struggles in effectively mobilizing its forces. He underscores the need for Ukraine to devise innovative strategies to transition from the stagnant trench warfare to a more dynamic combat approach.
Positional Warfare Favors Russia
Zaluzhny’s analysis, as per ISW, concludes that the current positional warfare aligns with Russia’s interests, prolonging the conflict and allowing Russia to establish dominance in specific sectors. He posits that under certain conditions, including Western backing for Ukraine, both nations could shift back to swift maneuver warfare. ISW highlights Zaluzhny’s emphasis on transitioning from a positional to mobile warfare.
Image: Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Defenseofkyiv, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, (no changes made)
