The Miles of Obstacles Slowing Ukraines Counteroffensive – The New York Times

Three weeks in, Ukraine has made little progress toward one of its main lines of attack in southern Ukraine. Russia has a crucial ally: the unforgiving terrain of the south.

Territory reclaimed by

Ukraine since June 4

Wide-open fields leave little room for cover for Ukrainian troops, tanks and armored vehicles.

1 mile from

the front line

Fields surrounded

by tree lines

Trees line the edges of those fields, concealing Russian forces and shielding them from aerial observation.

5 miles from

the front line

Beyond natural obstacles, miles of Russian defenses trenches, tank traps and mines only allow Ukraines troops to make incremental progress at best.

10 miles from

the front line

If Ukraine can get 15 miles from the front line, to the city of Tokmak, urban warfare will pose its own challenges. Tall buildings and narrow sidestreets ensure combat will be at close quarters, and deadly.

Anti-tank trap

surrounding the city

15 miles from

the front line

Tall buildings

provide cover

20 miles from

the front line

Few expected Ukraines counteroffensive to go quickly, but other lines of attack face similar obstacles. Turning the tide will require mastering the terrain.

Three weeks in, Ukraine has made little progress toward one of its main lines of attack in southern Ukraine. Russia has a crucial ally: the unforgiving terrain of the south.

Territory reclaimed by

Ukraine since June 4

Wide-open fields leave little room for cover for Ukrainian troops, tanks and armored vehicles.

1 mile from

the front line

Fields surrounded

by tree lines

Trees line the edges of those fields, concealing Russian forces and shielding them from aerial observation.

5 miles from

the front line

Beyond natural obstacles, miles of Russian defenses trenches, tank traps and mines only allow Ukraines troops to make incremental progress, at best.

10 miles from

the front line

If Ukraine can get 15 miles from the front line, to the city of Tokmak, urban warfare will pose its own challenges. Tall buildings and narrow sidestreets ensure combat will be at close quarters, and deadly.

Anti-tank trap

surrounding the city

15 miles from

the front line

Tall buildings

provide cover

20 miles from

the front line

Few expected Ukraines counteroffensive to go quickly, but other lines of attack face similar obstacles. Turning the tide will require mastering the terrain.

Three weeks in, Ukraine has made little progress toward one of its main lines of attack in southern Ukraine. Russia has a crucial ally: the unforgiving terrain of the south.

Territory reclaimed by

Ukraine since June 4

1 mile from

the front line

Wide-open fields leave little room for cover for Ukrainian troops, tanks and armored vehicles.

Fields surrounded

by tree lines

Trees line the edges of those fields, concealing Russian forces and shielding them from aerial observation.

5 miles from

the front line

Beyond natural obstacles, miles of Russian defenses trenches, tank traps and mines only allow Ukraines troops to make incremental progress, at best.

10 miles from

the front line

Anti-tank trap

surrounding the city

If Ukraine can get 15 miles from the front line, to the city of Tokmak, urban warfare will pose its own challenges. Tall buildings and narrow sidestreets ensure combat will be at close quarters, and deadly.

15 miles from

the front line

Tall buildings

provide cover

20 miles from

the front line

Few expected Ukraines counteroffensive to go quickly, but other lines of attack face similar obstacles. Turning the tide will require mastering the terrain.

The southern offensive could determine the fate of the war, many military analysts believe. Much of Ukraine is rolling steppe and forests, but the south is especially flat, making it more dangerous for advancing troops.

Ukrainian officials have said the counteroffensive is going as planned, even though its clear, through open source accounts, that Ukrainian vehicles including recently supplied western tanks and armored personnel carriers are being damaged and destroyed. Kyivs formations have managed to take several small villages, but Ukrainian casualties are mounting.

The slow pace is most likely the result of several factors. Russian troops have shown competency fighting defensively, and Moscows formations have improved their tactics since earlier in the war.

The short-lived rebellion by the Wagner group on Saturday hasnt had an immediate effect on the front line in southern Ukraine. No Russian soldiers left their positions to come to Russias defense. But the Ukrainian military may be able to capitalize on the chaos and weakening morale to try to make some gains, according to analysts.

The terrain is a formidable obstacle in and of itself. Here is how the physical features of southern Ukraine combine to give Russian defenders an advantage.

Russians mine the roads

leading to settlements

to slow the advance

of vehicles and tanks.

De-mining vehicles

and explosives are often

used to clear land mines.

Once in the open field,

the tanks and vehicles

are not only slower, but

also more vulnerable

to attacks.

Russians mine the roads

leading to settlements

to slow the advance

of vehicles and tanks.

De-mining vehicles

and explosives are often

used to clear land mines.

Once in the open field,

the tanks and vehicles

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The Miles of Obstacles Slowing Ukraines Counteroffensive - The New York Times