New ally of the Ukrainians. Russians will "freeze and soak"
According to "The New York Times", in the upcoming winter months, the Russian armed forces may again target civilian objectives in Ukraine. However, it is Kyiv that may have the chance to take advantage of the winter conditions for their military purposes. The Ukrainian army, which already has ATACMS missiles in its arsenal, may decide to use them to conduct more effective attacks on the positions of a demoralized opponent.
10:51 PM EDT, October 24, 2023
The progress of the Ukrainian counter-offensive in the Zaporizhia region is slow. The manner in which the warfare is conducted in this region, reminiscent of the battles fought during World War I at the Somme, has been interpreted by the Kremlin as a defeat for Kyiv. This, in turn, prompted the Russians to launch an offensive under Avdiivka in Donbas. However, Ukraine's possession of ATACMS missiles, which can inflict serious losses on the enemy's rear, means that every mile conquered in Zaporizhia could be crucial - noted the "NYT" on Monday.
As emphasized, these areas are almost 62 miles from the shore of the Azov Sea, which is currently occupied by the enemy. Thanks to the possession of a powerful weapon with a range of about 99 miles, Ukraine has the ability to more effectively destroy Russian command centers, military bases, ammunition warehouses, and supply lines, which are located far from the battlefield. Kyiv hopes that this will significantly weaken the aggressor's potential in the winter months.
If the Ukrainians manage to carry out attacks using ATACMS in many places at the same time, expanding the front line and forcing the Russians to defend, the invaders may simply "freeze and soak". This could mean large losses for the demoralized invasion forces, especially if the Ukrainians manage to destroy their logistical support - assessed Jack Watling, an expert from the British think tank Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), in a conversation with "NYT".
This is a tactic of the so-called "deep war", which involves striking targets in the rear of the front. Thanks to having ATACMS missiles, Ukraine has gained an additional advantage in this strategy - noted an American newspaper.
ATACMS missiles are American ballistic missiles with a range of up to 186 miles, launched from HIMARS and M270 MLRS launchers. Ukraine received an older version of these missiles with a range of approximately 103 miles, containing cluster submunitions. ATACMS was likely first used in combat conditions on the night of October 16 to 17 Eastern Time, when the Ukrainian army destroyed at least nine Russian Ka-52 and Mi-8 helicopters at airports in the occupied cities of Berdyansk and Lugansk.
