Ukrainian officials described the three-week fight on a plain near Vuhledar as “epic,” the biggest tank battle of the war so far and a major setback for Russian forces, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.
Russia repeats tactical mistakes: NYT
Both Ukraine and Russia sent tanks into the battle in Vuhledar, “with the Russians thrusting forward in columns and the Ukrainians manoeuvring defensively, firing from a distance or from hiding places as Russian columns came into their sights,” according to the NYT.
The US newspaper added: “When it was over, not only had Russia failed to capture Vuhledar, but it also had made the same mistake that cost Moscow hundreds of tanks earlier in the war: advancing columns into ambushes.”
The farm fields around the coal mining town are now strewn with the remains of Russian tanks, Britain’s The Guardian reported.
Ukrainian military drone footage showed that the Russian vehicles had been blown up on mines, hit by artillery or destroyed by anti-tank missiles, according to The Guardian.
Ukraine’s signature ambush tactics succeed: NYT
Moreover, Russian forces fighting in Vuhledar lacked experienced tank commanders, while many of the troops were newly conscripted soldiers who had not been prepared for Ukraine’s tactics for ambushing columns, the NYT said. It noted that ambushes have been Ukraine’s “signature tactic” against Russia’s armoured columns since early on in the war.
By last week, Russian forces had lost so many vehicles to Ukraine’s armoured attacks that they switched tactics, resorting only to infantry assaults, according to Ukrainian commanders.
Ukraine’s forces ‘may withdraw’ from Bakhmut: presidential adviser
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army may decide to retreat from the key eastern city of Bakhmut, an aide to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
Alexander Rodnyansky, who is an economic adviser to Zelensky, told US broadcaster CNN: “The situation is difficult. There is no secret about that.”
He added: “Russia is trying to encircle it right now and they’re using their best Wagner troops, apparently, the most well trained and experienced. Our military is obviously going to weigh all of the options. So far, you know, they’ve held the city, but, if need be, they will strategically pull back because we’re not going to second guess all of our people just for nothing.”
Wednesday was day 371 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: The Guardian, CNN