nortex97 said:
Bakhmut quagmire works to Russia's advantage, but supposedly they have set a target to finish taking it by May 9th.Apparently the Ukrainians have resorted to just blowing up buildings once the Russians enter them.Quote:
Transformation of an army
Ukraine's armed forces underwent significant reforms starting in 2014. Western trainers started the process of transitioning the Ukrainian army from a top-down organization to one where lower-ranking individuals, like lieutenants and sergeants, have influence.
This shift in structure gave Ukrainian forces considerable flexibility on the battlefield, which proved to be a significant advantage in the first phases of the war. Lower-ranking officers and sergeants were able to respond to battlefield developments and achieve considerable tactical and even operational success.
The structure of the Ukrainian army and the goals of the Ukrainian political establishment, however, have shifted. Those lower-ranking officers and sergeants who were responsible for the Ukrainian success have either been killed or promoted, as Ukraine has suffered upwards of 120,000 casualties.
The soldiers replacing them, while their morale is high, do not have the same training and skills as the people they've replaced.
Fighting for total victory
This shift is mirrored in the political sphere. Initially, the sole goal of Ukraine was to keep fighting and prevent a rapid Russian victory. That goal was achieved.
Now, the Ukrainian forces are fighting for total victory. This is a subtle, but significant, shift.War is horrible. This will only beget more atrocities from both sides.Quote:
"I just want to note that the Wagner mercenaries and the Russian Airborne Forces are suffering heavy losses in Bakhmut not so much because of street fighting, but recently because of the Ukrainian army remotely blowing up buildings.
"Meaning, after the Wagner mercenaries are crammed in a building left by the Ukrainian army, the building is being blown up, and everyone inside is killed. They can't stop cramming into these houses, because there is nowhere else to hide, firstly. And secondly, 15 people cannot get into a building, because they can easily be knocked out. Therefore, if they occupy a building, it means several hundred people at once. Therefore, several hundred are blown up.
"Wagner Group is complaining a lot about this Ukraine's Armed Forces tactic on their sites and Telegram-channels. They say it's not fair. Actually, they might not have attacked, and then they wouldn't have had such problems.
It's pretty insane to "both sides" a war when it's 100% the fault of the country who is currently invading.