The Armed Forces of Ukraine have found an effective way to counter a key tactic used by Russian forces, which the Russian army has actively employed over the past two years. Ukrainian units have learned to quickly detect and eliminate most enemy “infiltration” groups used for gradual advances on the front line. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Source: OBOZREVATEL
According to the publication, this shift in Ukrainian tactics could significantly affect the dynamics of the fighting, as Russia’s “creeping advance” approach is gradually losing effectiveness.
Russian forces previously used small infantry groups to push forward despite losses, but since February the situation on the front has changed: the line of contact has partially stabilized, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine are increasingly carrying out successful counterattacks.
This year, Russia’s rate of advance is estimated to be the lowest in the past two years, while monthly losses are estimated by experts at around 35,000 killed and wounded.
Foreign Policy Research Institute expert Rob Lee notes that Ukrainian forces have learned to effectively detect and destroy nearly all such groups using drones and mobile assault units.
Even Russian military bloggers acknowledge that often only one or two out of ten soldiers reach the front positions, indicating a decline in the effectiveness of this tactic.
Ukrainian units are also improving counteroffensive operations, where drones, including ground-based systems, work in coordination with infantry. Such operations are local in scale but positively affect troop morale.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, in April Russian forces for the first time since August 2024 suffered net territorial losses and lost control of 116 square kilometers.
At the same time, analysts note that assessments vary depending on how the “grey zone” is interpreted, but a growing trend is being recorded of slowed Russian advances and localized Ukrainian successes.
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