(Dan Tri) – For Ukrainian soldiers inching forward on the front lines, the counterattack is becoming urgent as summer gradually gives way to shorter days, drenching rain and, eventually, snow.
Ukraine is trying to speed up the counterattack before the weather turns bad (Photo: Wall Street Journal).
Soldiers from both Ukraine and Russia are used to the cold and fighting that has broken out during two winters, so they will not leave the battlefield.
But downpours can wipe out roads, while icy weather will make basic operations difficult, from loading artillery shells to pulling the trigger.
A worry of both Ukraine and its Western allies is that Kiev soldiers may eventually create a big enough hole in the Russian defense line, but their heavy armored vehicles cannot take advantage of that opportunity because of the terrain.
The counterattack at this time is a close-range clash between infantry, and soldiers on both sides cannot move freely due to the threat of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The clock is counting down for Ukraine
Last weekend, Major General Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence agency, said: `The fighting will continue one way or another.`
`Fighting in cold, wet, mud weather will be more difficult,` he admitted but affirmed: `The offensive campaign will continue on all fronts.`
General Mark Milley, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared more cautious about Ukraine’s ability to succeed this year.
A Ukrainian sniper participates in a reconnaissance mission near Bakhmut (Photo: Reuters).
Meanwhile, another Western defense official said that around the end of October, Ukraine will need to switch from attack to defense, and need to protect civilian infrastructure from UAV and missile attacks.
That’s why, with the weather still hot and largely dry, Kiev’s army is trying to advance.
Even if Ukrainian forces cannot break through to the Sea of Azov, nearly 90km south of their current front line, Kiev’s army only needs to advance 8-16km for Ukrainian artillery to be able to lay down supply lines.
The road ahead is still full of dangers for Ukraine.
`They are fighting very fiercely,` said the soldier controlling the UAV nicknamed Syviy, part of Ukraine’s aerial reconnaissance unit fighting near the Verbove front.
Any delay in Ukraine’s counteroffensive could help Russia entrench itself deeper.
Ukrainian tank units will soon have to fight in difficult weather conditions such as mud and snow (Photo: Reuters).
The fighting will not stop
Fearing the possibility that the weather will prevent armored vehicles from crossing the Russian line even though a gap has been created, the Ukrainian army is accelerating the pace of its advance.
`The rain will make things very difficult. The mud will limit maneuverability,` said Oleksandr Solonko, another member of the UAV unit.
The most dangerous weather conditions will come in November and early December, when the roads will disappear.
Today, UAVs are helping Ukrainian ground forces move forward more safely because they can detect Russian forces, especially artillery.
Ukrainian units, such as combat forces in the Donetsk region, were among the first to integrate UAVs directly into combat (Photo: AP).
Soldiers could not even venture out of the trenches to urinate, Syviy said.
According to Solonko, during the day, Ukrainian UAV reconnaissance missions are often interrupted by Russia’s electronic warfare system.
The influence of heavy autumn rain and winter snow on UAV operations remains an open question.
`Maybe some tactics will change,` but fighting will continue, Solonko said.
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