CONTINUED…
Given the fact they have had so many advantages - preparing unmolested because Ukraine cannot fire over the border, that their artillery is safe over the border for the most part (except from Ukrainian made drones), their logistics likewise, that they can retire to home territory for rotations and repair just a few kilometres away, and this is the best they can manage? These forces were building up for the best part of ten months. Rumours of an attack here have been long suspected. The Russians even built a new airstrip.
The fact is the Ukrainians left the open fields undefended for good reason - and the Russians paid the price crossing them and continue to do so, having grossly underestimated their vulnerabilities (which at this stage of the war is frankly incomprehensible). The number of troops allocated to the attack was clearly insufficient.
Now they are stuck and in effect draining their own resources for no real gain. Even more galling for the Russians is that on many sectors of the front the Ukrainians have stopped their advances or even retaken small sections in places in just a few days.
Only in Robotyne do the Russians appear to have made a significant but small gain.
Once again, let’s just remember that for months, Ukraine was almost on its knees. The shortages of weapons and artillery shells has been almost crippling. The winter was nowhere near as bad as expected and the mud of the autumn and spring has been minimal. Russia had all the advantages and it made some gains - but they’re relatively small other than Avdivka. If with all their advantages that’s the best they can do then they really have a problem. You cannot but start to wonder if the tide has reached its peak and is starting to turn. The Kharkiv offensive isn’t yet over but it’s stuck in a rut of its own making, dragging resources into a fight that should have never happened and certainly wasn’t in the plan. That sounds like the description of this entire war from Russia’s perspective.

It is Memorial Day tomorrow in the US . Maximum credit to the Ukrainian forces and people for defending their country and all of ours against such an evil enemy. An outstanding job. We should all be eternally grateful.

Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦!