The Russians are 'burying the city with the bodies of their own soldiers,' one Ukrainian commander told Newsweek of the fierce combat around Bakhmut.
Russian forces tried to win the war in a matter of days with an early"thunder run" on Kyiv, but mobile columns were quickly bogged down and destroyed due to badly limited logistical capabilities. Subsequent Russian operations have been characterized by slow, artillery-fueled attrition against enemy positions and settlements.
"They are in dire need of officers," Gressel said."They're shortened officer training to get the cadets out to the troops to the mobilized troops. But, of course, you can't expect much from very hastily trained officers."in the fall, Russia is still mobilizing new troops.
"Where they will strike with the remaining 200,000 guys that are still undergoing training, that's the million-dollar question," Gressel said."There is a lot of preparation on the northern border, opposite Kharkiv Oblast. I've seen Ukrainian news of a lot of saboteurs and reconnaissance teams trying to infiltrate that part of the border."
"I would not be surprised if the next offensive the Russians are planning is going to be a northern offensive; they reopen Sumy Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast, and try to push down from the north," Gressel said, noting an attack in this area would have the benefit of short supply lines back across the border into Russia.
"The Russian military buildup is far from complete and they're still undergoing training," Gressel added."We of course can't know for sure, but that would be the guess from my side."
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