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Ukraine's Survival Hinges on Creating Political Crisis in Moscow
🇸🇪 Sweden /Elections & Politics

Ukraine's Survival Hinges on Creating Political Crisis in Moscow

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Ukraine's defense has stalled Russia's initial invasion plans, preventing Kyiv's swift fall.
  • Over 1,600 days later, Russia controls about one-fifth of Ukraine, struggling to achieve its goal of dominating Donbas.
  • Modern warfare, particularly drone use, has made ground advances deadly, shifting focus to economic and logistical attrition.

Ukraine's unexpected resilience has thwarted Russia's initial invasion strategy, preventing the predicted rapid fall of Kyiv. What was envisioned as a swift "special operation" has evolved into a protracted conflict, with Russia now controlling approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory over 1,600 days after the initial assault.

Russia is still pushing, but in fewer places than a few years ago. At the same time, Ukraine could not now make a counteroffensive like the one it made in Kursk in 2023. Both sides get stuck and there are no major breakthroughs.

— Roger DjupsjöAnalysis of the current static nature of the front lines and the challenges for both sides to achieve breakthroughs.

The initial Russian advance stalled outside Kyiv, thwarted by Ukraine's actions at Hostomel airport, which prevented Russian forces from landing troops and heavy equipment. Despite Russia's continued efforts, particularly in the Donbas region, its forces remain far from achieving full control of eastern Ukraine. Intense fighting is concentrated in western Donetsk and the city of Kostiantynivka, where claims of Russian control have been disputed by Ukraine and international observers.

What is happening more and more now, is that they bomb each other's economy and logistics, which will ultimately decide the war.

— Roger DjupsjöExplaining the evolving nature of the conflict towards economic and logistical warfare.

Both sides have adapted to the battlefield, leading to a largely static front line. Ukraine has regained some territory, but major breakthroughs are absent. Military experts note that the nature of warfare has changed dramatically, with drones posing a significant threat to infantry and making offensive operations, like tank advances, increasingly perilous.

We have moved into the domain of the air.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyUkrainian President's assessment of the importance of air power in the ongoing conflict.

This shift in tactics, where economic and logistical disruption plays a crucial role, is seen as a potential deciding factor in the war's outcome. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has echoed this sentiment, highlighting Ukraine's success in controlling the ground and sea, and its efforts to gain dominance in the air. However, the effectiveness of advanced aerial assets, such as Swedish fighter jets, in changing the strategic balance remains uncertain due to the heightened risks of operating over enemy territory.

It is difficult for fighter jets to operate over the other country's territory today.

— Roger DjupsjöAssessing the limited impact of fighter jets in the current conflict dynamics.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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