Ukraine employs "elastic band" strategy in defence – AP

The firepower of Ukraine has improved after lawmakers approved a much-needed military aid package, but for this, the defence forces had to lose territories to buy time.

Source: AP

Details: AP analyses that while the arrival of Western ammunition has reduced Russia's overwhelming artillery advantage, Moscow's troops are still capturing positions along the front line and are likely to continue doing so in the summer, when drier ground and longer days will favour their advance.

Kyiv is employing a "bend-but-don’t-break" strategy to buy time until more Western weapons and ammunition arrive at the front. By conceding some territory, journalists write, Ukraine has gained the opportunity to engage in combat from more fortified positions. Ukraine has deployed a flexible defence strategy of "elastic band" to gain time until it is better armed and supplied.

Military officials said that by making painful decisions to retreat to better-protected positions, Ukrainian troops can fight more effectively and preserve personnel. Analysts explain that in such a strategy, time works in favour – small territories can be conceded now, but more can be gained later.

AP also emphasises that this strategy contrasts with the nine-month battle for the city of Bakhmut, where Ukrainian troops suffered significant losses in a futile attempt to hold the city. 

First Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Ivan Havryliuk told the Associated Press that Ukraine is already seeing the results of American aid: "Russia’s artillery advantage was 7-to-1 at the start of the year, but is down to 5-to-1 now." 

Havryliuk noted that Ukraine needs at least 130 F-16 fighter jets to counter Russian aviation, but he stated that over time, Ukraine will achieve air superiority in its own airspace.

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