Russia begins the battle of Donbass: How is the new front different from the Kiev front?

A Ukrainian soldier in the Lugansk region – Photo: NYT

Changes in terrain and strategy

The Russian-Ukrainian conflict is shifting from densely populated urban areas to the southeastern part of the region Donbass with vast plains.

The Donbass region has a large area of ​​more than 50,000 square kilometers², which borders Russia to the north and south. With unrestricted visibility, military forces can use artillery shells to attack each side’s position from afar. New York Times of the US comment.

According to the American newspaper, perhaps the biggest difference from the earlier phase of the war was the situation on the ground.
Accordingly, instead of the battlefield being streets and villages like in the previous period, now the battlefield is flat land.

“There will be nowhere to hide, shells can strike at any moment,” said Maksim Finogin, a Ukrainian veteran in Donbass.

Both sides will try to close the enemy’s encirclement and then use artillery to fire on the forces inside, experts say. This will be an artillery war fired from a distance of tens of miles, in which the mentality of Ukrainian soldiers may be affected by the great advantage of Russian artillery, tanks and fighter jets.

Moscow is expected to use heavy weapons to ravage enemy strongholds, before deploying ground troops to capture these areas.

However, despite the advantage in numbers and weapons, fighting on open terrain will bring at least one advantage to Ukraine, that is, when attacking, the Russian army will have to move on the terrain. unprotected.

A military convoy in a Russian-controlled area enters Mariupol, south of the Donbass region – Photo: NYT

The advantage is in favor of Russia with a great advantage in terms of weapons. But in a defensive position, Ukraine can attack Russian military positions on the plains through artillery systems.

Bloody and prolonged?

In recent days, both sides are mobilizing forces to prepare for a new phase of war. Overall, Russia has increased the number of troops fighting in the east to 40 (equivalent to 40,000 troops) from 30 at the beginning of the month, while continuing to mobilize more troops, a Defense Ministry official said. America said.

Moscow has withdrawn about 40,000 troops from northern Ukraine to reorganize and deploy in Russia and Belarus, and is expected to move part of its forces east in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military estimated there were about 30,000 troops in the east before Russia launched a special military operation on February 24. After repelling Russian advances in Kiev, elite forces were deployed to the east, but exact numbers are difficult to estimate.

Ukrainian forces are maintained in smaller groups and are more flexible in deployment than the Russian side. BILLIONIn the new phase of the war, the Ukrainian side will need new military equipment, especially long-range artillery systems and rocket launchers. They will also need armored vehicles to protect soldiers during attacks.

Western countries are stepping up to meet the demand for weapons from Ukraine. Slovakia this week supplied Ukraine with S-300 air defense missile systems. Last week, US President Joe Biden announced a military assistance package worth $800 million, including first-time deliveries of weapons such as 18 Howitzer 155mm grenade launchers, 40,000 artillery shells, and 200 armored vehicles. army.

New York Times Citing US, British and Ukrainian military experts, in the near future, small wars will last for weeks or months before escalating into big battles.

Experts say that there is still no major move in the region, and it is likely that it will be a bloody and protracted war before reaching the end of demarcation.