CONTINUES…
They have already reached several very good defence lines with rivers and hills to aid them.
It’s now got to start to be about consolidation in many areas and preparing to defend what they have taken.
The eastern part of the operation seems to be held up a little- again largely due to consolidation and Russian skirmishing units.
My concern is that this incursion is itself a large and concerning protrusion that will eventually have to be defended on three sides. Let alone on its flanks at the international border - all of which will have to be defended against near certain Russian operations.
It’s either that or the Russians simply ignore it, concentrate on the central front, where they gain ground daily and do nothing more than contain what Ukraine has taken until they choose to do something in their own time.
Right now I think the Russians see this as a very unwelcome and embarrassing distraction. It’s the main front that wins and loses this war in their minds.
Ukraine has done well to take so much land - it may take yet more, but I honestly struggle to see what use it’s going to be in the mid-term fight.
Russian acquiescence in its existence is the worst possible outcome. By the end of September we’ll have a far better idea of where and how this is going to play out.
I still think it’s all a waste of men and resources. If this lot had been used to pinch off the huge salient the Russians have built in the central front, before they could have built defences, it could have been decisive in slowing them down and even stopping them in my view. But there we go- we have what we have and now we have to watch it develop for good or ill.

‘The Analyst’ MilStratOnX
Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦