Why Ukraine's counteroffensive is slow

Why Ukraine's counteroffensive is slow

- IAN LOVETT

On a hilltop near the occupied southern Ukrainian town of Polohy, Russian forces set up an observation point that can spot Ukrainian soldiers more than 6 miles away. Four times, Ukrainian forces destroyed the Murom-M surveillance system, said Lt. Col. Oleksiy Telehin, of Ukraine's 108 Territorial Defense brigade. Four times, the Russians promptly installed a new one.

Ukraine successfully outmaneuvered Russia's far larger invading forces last year, despite being outmanned, outgunned and vastly overpowered in the air. With a nimble approach, superior knowledge of the terrain and the efficient use of drones and digital technology, its units were able to repel a far larger army that often seemed lumbering and mired in bureaucracy.

That's all over. Ukraine is now attempting to dislodge an entrenched enemy, one of the most daunting operations any military can undertake. Russian troops have spent months building physical defenses that include bunkers, tank traps and minefields some more than 15 miles deep.

In this phase of the war, Ukraine's lack of resources is proving as much of a challenge as the dug-in Russian defenses. Despite the delivery of new Western weapons in recent months and a promise by the U.S. Friday to send deadly cluster munitions in the future-Kyiv's effort to push south through Russian territory toward the Sea of Azov has stalled. Though Ukrainian officials say they are making progress, and have reclaimed a handful of villages in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions over the past month, they also acknowledge the herculean nature of their task.

"If we kill a whole unit-100 soldiers the next day they will bring another unit. And the day after, another," Lt. Col. Telehin said.