The Ukrainian operation in the kursk region of rf illustrates how Ukrainian forces can use maneuver warfare to offset the russian advantage in manpower and materiel. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes about this in its report, reports UNN.
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russian forces occupied a total of 1,175 square kilometers of territory across the Ukrainian theater of operations in the seven months between January and July 2024, as ISW recently estimated.
In stark contrast, ISW observes claims that Ukraine's operation in the kursk region advanced about 800 square kilometers in six days from August 6-12 and had advanced about 28 kilometers in depth as of August 17.
Again, the size of the territory captured by Ukrainian forces is not an indicator of the success of this operation - it is offered here to show that the recovery of maneuver can lead to a much faster advance than positional warfare
Military analysts write that Ukrainian units initially encountered largely unprepared, unequipped and deserted russian defensive positions along the border in the kursk region, but Ukraine continued to use the maneuver to move quickly in the kursk region even after russian reinforcements were deployed in the area.
Ukraine's use of maneuver in the kursk area serves as an example of how maneuver combined with operational surprise can lead to comparatively greater successes in much shorter periods of time with fewer men and equipment
ISW notes that a prolonged positional war, by contrast, would only make Ukraine's resource disadvantages more pronounced, while a protracted war would increase costs for Ukraine and its partners.
Dr. Frederick and Kimberly Kagan noted that the problem of restoring operational maneuver in warfare remains a central challenge for both sides at the operational level of war, and Ukraine's ability to achieve rapid maneuver in the Kursk area indicates that Ukrainian forces have learned lessons from the last months of positional warfare that can help Ukraine use maneuver warfare in the future.
Russia tried to ignore the events in Kursk to the end - Reuters17.08.2024, 15:56 • [views_36343]