Russia, Learning From Costly Mistakes, Shifts Battlefield Tactics

[jgo]

"
Russia won ground early in the war with sheer firepower. Interviews with 17 Ukrainian soldiers, a Russian prisoner of war, officers, foreign fighters and Western officials, as well as a review of documents and videos, show that, in recent months, the Kremlin’s gains, especially in Bakhmut, have come in part because of a series of adaptations.

Russian armored columns, for instance, no longer rush into areas where they can be quickly damaged or destroyed. Troops are more often using drones and probing attacks — and sometimes just shouting — to find Ukrainian trenches before striking. And the mercenary Wagner Group has shown an ability to outpace Ukrainian defenders with a combination of improved tactics and disposable ranks.

As it begins its long-awaited counteroffensive, Ukraine is well armed, backed by improved communication technology and American and European weaponry.

But Moscow’s forces have improved their defenses, artillery coordination and air support, setting up a campaign that could look very different from the war’s early days. These improvements, Western officials say, will most likely make Russia a tougher opponent, particularly as it fights defensively, playing to its battlefield strengths. This defensive turn is a far cry from Russia’s initial plan for a full-scale invasion and Ukrainian defeat.
"
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/17/world/europe/russia-ukraine-war-tactics.html

[Lovie777]

1. NY Times is pro GQP and pro Russia.....................

[Wonder Why]

2. Seems to me they are reporting reasonable facts. Ukraine may have to

alter their counter-offensive tactics to overcome the new Russian tactics.

I see no words of support by the NY Times.

[Igel]

4. Agreed.

Saying the enemy isn't a drooling piece of crap but can at least partially adapt isn't exactly the same as full-blown "rah-rah!"

I find it a bit amusing that the innovator here is primarily the private, entrepreneurial Vagner group and not the centralized C&C Russian military. Shoigu can't be happy (then again, Shoigu isn't happy unless he's torturing anti-Soviet puppies or finding some corrupt scheme on the side that he can boast is "building socialism&quot .

[comradebillyboy]

3. Even Russians are capable of learning from their mistakes.