Quote (babun1024 @ Apr 24 2024 09:11am)
Well, the significance is Ukraine was defending that area with everything. A breakthrough there means Russia can march further through/ Ukraine was depleted of its resources. Time will tell.
This is conjecture.
What is true is Russia has had a significant numerical advantage and advantage of scale in artillery and has only made limited gains.
Perhaps if the Russian military could be more adept at combined arms manoeuvres they would have taken more territory.
The use of glide bombs has mad a difference allowing Russia to hit Ukrainian positions from distance; This alone is not a gamechanger, the actual advances have been costly for Russia in terms of manpower and material. As they always are.
What will be significant is whether Ukraine can exact a cost on the Russian air force for using this tactic. Either by increased air defence but most likely by targeting the planes before they launch. How they deploy F-16s will effect this the most in my opinion.