Russia, Learning From Costly Mistakes, Shifts Battlefield Tactics
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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.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/17/world/europe/russia-ukraine-war-tactics.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
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"
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