The much-expected counteroffensive by Ukraine looks to be approaching, and both sides' preparations reveal a great deal about their readiness.
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| Image Source - Google | Image by <br><a href= CNN News |
Vehicle movement and artillery fire are frequent along Kyiv's front lines, and explosions often hit important Russian sites in the seized territory.
The country's defense minister has said that preparations are "coming to an end," and President Volodymyr Zelensky has promised that a counteroffensive "will happen," though he has not specified a specific date.
It could be weeks away or it could have already begun. We don't know, and the lack of knowledge is a key indicator of Ukraine's success at this stage.
The three rows of dragon's teeth that can be seen close to the road are there to obstruct tanks.
On the other hand, Moscow's battle has devolved into a late-night fight. They had at least seven months to prepare for the next Ukrainian attack target, Zaporizhzhia, after losing Kharkiv and Kherson.
With extensive trench defense networks that can be seen from space, that has already occurred. That they have been acknowledged for their immensity in 2023 is not always praise. They are significant, yes, but anyone can browse them on Google. In a time of precision, that is not good.
But the past 72 hours may have revealed Russia's lack of readiness the most.
First, Mikhail Mizintsev, the deputy defense minister in charge of logistics, appears to have been fired. Aleksey Kuzmenkov now has his job, although the Russian Ministry of Defence hasn't said why he was fired.
The infamous "Butcher of Mariupol," Mizintsev, undoubtedly committed enough mistakes during Russia's terrible war to warrant his dismissal. But this doesn't answer the query: Why now?
Moscow sends a message of disarray by dismissing important ministers just before its army meets Ukraine's counter-assault.
Then there is the latest wave of criticism from Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Wagner mercenary warlord decided to give another lengthy interview on Sunday in which he exposed the vast scope of the problems his soldiers endure.
The Wagner leader claims that his troops may have to leave Bakhmut, the strategically inconsequential city they have wasted hundreds of lives attempting to capture since they are so short on ammunition.
(A warning: Prigozhin is not the most reliable source and offers scant support for his claims. Moscow, though, would not support this kind of public argument at this delicate time.
