Operations in recent weeks have seen the continuation of a trend which has been identified since early in the war: other factors being equal, the balance of land combat generally favours the defending force. In the south, the Ukrainian advance remains relatively static between the two main lines of russia’s well prepared defensive positions. Around the Donetsk town of Avdiivka, a large-scale russian assault has floundered on strong Ukrainian defenses, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
A major factor in this phenomenon has highly likely been the relative side-lining of tactical air power: both sides have maintained credible air defenses, preventing combat jets from providing effective air support for assaults.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence: russia Loses Four SAM Launchers in a Week, Highlighting Weaknesses in Air Defense System
Above all, the geographic size of the conflict has hampered the offensives: both sides have struggled to assemble uncommitted striking forces capable of a breakthrough because most of their mobilised troops are needed to hold the 1,200 km line of contact.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence Reports on russia’s Deployment of Small One-Way-Attack Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
