From "The Analyst":

WEATHER CONDITIONS HAMMER
FRONTLINE ACTIVITY

The long forecast collapse of part of the Polar Vortex, which happens as warm equatorial air pushes north out of the Pacific, (caused by the El Niño effect which is at a high), tips freezing cold air south - often over the US and Canada or North Atlantic- but just as often over Russia.
The size of Russia means that the air flow splays out over much wider areas and plunging cold air has done just that, with part of it blasting across most of the frontlines, where it again meets warmer wet air blown west from Europe.
The result is high winds in the Black Sea and a constant ebbing and flowing of heavy rain and freezing conditions, quickly swapping with wind blasted frozen rain.
The temperature changes are dramatic, with -6c nights and days swapping with 6c days where everything rapidly melts have been common.
The results are appalling front line conditions, deep mud, flooded and frozen trenches, no sleep, trapped vehicles, slow logistics.
Heavy fog forms reining in drone use and equipment is plastered in mud.
Trench Foot - a nasty and painful condition that rots the flesh, last seen in the war in Korea caused by sodden footwear, hobbles soldiers.
Shelter and somewhere to hide when you can’t move is hard to come by. Many of the tree lines, such a ubiquitous feature of Ukraine, designed to break the speed of harsh winds and stop soil erosion, are now devastated stumps with no leaf cover to hide under.
This winter is not going to be like last years mild one. All the forecasts for Russia and Ukraine are for a harder deeper cold. Russia you would think is prepared for it, but little has been done to winterise their forces. Ukraine has much that was granted last year and not used - more is coming from Scandinavia and Canada.
Spare a thought for those who will spend the next weeks and months defending Ukraine in filthy mud, slime, freezing snows and blizzards.
The next few months are going to be very hard indeed.