Yea two ways to look at it and neither are good for ukraine.
Either it’s not strategically viable in which case one might wonder why one of thr largest mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army operated out of there and why they spent months fighting to try to keep it.
Or it is strategically viable and it was a successful Russian offensive.
Either way even if it isn’t viable the Ukranians still tried and failed to hold it for years which it seems like your enemy capturing something you were trying to defend is a win for them regardless of how strategically valuable it was.
Great point. If Russia takes it, it’s not strategic. But it was strategic for thousands of people to die holding it. And I totally believe that Zelensky would sacrifice thousands of his people for something not strategic
Exactly, and while I do think Ugledar happens to be strategically important, there is an undeniable factor of Ukraine being constrained by the need for optics. Since Ukraine is entirely dependent on the west to continue fighting, they’re conscious about them getting cold feet if they start thinking that Ukraine is a lost cause. This results in Ukraine holding every centimetre of territory to the last man, and doing stunts like Kursk. On the other hand, Russian military is free to make decisions regardless of the optics. They can give up territory, do tactical retreats, and so on. This is a huge advantage since it affords Russia far more operational freedom.
Yea two ways to look at it and neither are good for ukraine.
Either it’s not strategically viable in which case one might wonder why one of thr largest mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army operated out of there and why they spent months fighting to try to keep it.
Or it is strategically viable and it was a successful Russian offensive.
Either way even if it isn’t viable the Ukranians still tried and failed to hold it for years which it seems like your enemy capturing something you were trying to defend is a win for them regardless of how strategically valuable it was.
Great point. If Russia takes it, it’s not strategic. But it was strategic for thousands of people to die holding it. And I totally believe that Zelensky would sacrifice thousands of his people for something not strategic
Exactly, and while I do think Ugledar happens to be strategically important, there is an undeniable factor of Ukraine being constrained by the need for optics. Since Ukraine is entirely dependent on the west to continue fighting, they’re conscious about them getting cold feet if they start thinking that Ukraine is a lost cause. This results in Ukraine holding every centimetre of territory to the last man, and doing stunts like Kursk. On the other hand, Russian military is free to make decisions regardless of the optics. They can give up territory, do tactical retreats, and so on. This is a huge advantage since it affords Russia far more operational freedom.