Russia's invasion of Ukraine 

US general: Ukraine on the way to knock out Russia only advantage 

 

Hans Österman  

 

Updated 01.11 | Published at 01.00  

 

News 

The counteroffensive is moving slowly, but Ukraine is quietly on the way to knocking out Putin's only advantage on the battlefield. 

 

This is stated by American General Ben Hodges. 

 

The analysis is supported by Swiss expert Marcus Keupp: 

 

- The Russian army faces the moment of truth at the latest this winter, he says.  

 

The counter-offensive was launched at the beginning of the summer, but so far has been slow due to dense Russian defense lines with mines and tank obstacles.  

 

This has sometimes led to open conflict between the US and Ukraine.

 

- Some people think this is a Hollywood movie and expect quick results. It is not. People's lives are at stake, President Zelenskyy said in a high-profile intervew with the BBC at the end of June.  

 

After heavy losses at the beginning of the counter-offensive, Ukraine has changed its method. They attack the Russians from a distance with artillery and missiles, advancing in smaller groups as they try to break through at the front. 

 

General: That makes Ukraine right  

 

According to the New York Times, the new tactic raised concerns in the Pentagon. The fear is that a long war of attrition will play into Putin's hands, the newspaper stated at the beginning of August. 

 

But the strategy is now praised by Ben Hodges, a former top American general who was head of US forces in Europe. 

 

- I think most people look at this in the wrong context, he tells Newsweek. 

 

American General Ben Hodges. Photo: Mindaugas Kulbis / AP  

 

- What the Ukrainians have done right is to focus their efforts on knocking out artillery, headquarters and logistics. That's how you neutralize the only advantage the Russians have - the nume  

 

"Misguided criticism"  

 

Ben Hodges urges Pentagon chiefs to "think twice" before commenting on Ukraine's tactics. 

 

- There is no chance that we would send an American soldier to do what the Ukrainians are being forced to do. We would never go in without air supremacy. All criticism of what the Ukrainians are doing, or that it is not going fast enough, is really wrong and misguided, he tells Newsweek.  

 

- Think about what the offensive is for. It's about reaching certain operational goals and you don't just do that with ground forces.  

 

Destroyed buildings and tanks after heavy fighting in the Donetsk region at the end of September. Photo: Alex Babenko/AP  

 

According to Ben Hodges, the Ukrainian tactics fit well with the overall goal: To break through the Russian land corridor to the Crimean peninsula.  

 

- That's where you have to start. Everything they do is aimed at Crimea. All the ground movements through unknown villages, minefields and trenches are about trying to cut off the land corridor and isolate Crimea.  

 

Expert: "Was military nonsense" 

 

Swiss military expert Marcud Keupp shares Ben Hogde's analysis.  

 

- It's not about getting through trenches and minefields through suicide missions. 

 

That would be military nonsense, he says in an interview with German ZDF. 

 

According to Marcus Keupp, the Russian forces are suffering badly from the war of attrition. Their artillery capability is now down to the same frequency as Ukraine's, he states. 

 

- The Russian artillery explodes. Ukraine is blasting it in droves with primarily American cluster munitions. It is remarkable how much is destroyed. 

 

According to Marcus Keupp, Russia's reserves are also beginning to run out in terms of soldiers, combat vehicles and spare parts. And thus the Russian strategy of relying on its numerical advantage falls, he says: 

 

 - This paints the picture of an army that has so far been dependent on having very large reserves. But that argument is less and less valid and what should they do then? The Russian army faces the moment of truth at the latest this winter.