The ambush in the observation of the ‘Russian Offensive’ is the Ukrainian spring ‘muddy water’

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ji-yeon = With the end of winter, there are many speculations that a major Russian offensive against Ukraine is imminent, and there are also prospects that both militaries will face difficulties in the spring thawing mud.

CNBC reported on the 11th (local time) that the frozen ground in Ukraine is expected to begin to thaw in a few weeks, turning into a mud that will slow the advance of troops and tanks.

The mud in this area has historically been notorious for a long time, to the extent that there are separate words for the time when the ground turns to muddy as the snow melts in early spring or rains in late autumn, ‘Rasputica’ in Russian and ‘Bezdoriza’ in Ukrainian.

It is well known that Napoleon Bonaparte, on his expedition to Russia in 1812, and Adolf Hitler, on his invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 during World War II, suffered considerable difficulties with mud.

Despite his long reputation, there is no sharp trick to avoid the quagmire.

Russian forces have already been taken aback by Ukraine’s mud as they passed through the spring thaw after they invaded Ukraine on February 24 last year. Videos and photos of Russian tanks and armored vehicles sunk in the mud and abandoned have been circulating online.

Mud also afflicts Ukrainian forces. Last fall, Ukrainian forces also suffered from mud as they fought to recapture Russian-occupied territories.

With Russia expected to launch an all-out offensive to take full control of eastern Ukraine, the coming spring will present familiar challenges on both sides, the media noted.

The British Ministry of Defense said in an update on the situation in Ukraine posted on Twitter on the 9th, “The role of the weather in the course of the war in Ukraine is still critical.”

“It is highly likely that the heads of both sides are not planning a major attack at this time,” he added, “but political and operational opportunities could dispel such concerns, as seen by Russia launching an invasion in late February 2022.” .

In the midst of this, Ukraine diagnosed that even after Russia is ready to issue a new mobilization order, it is postponing it due to difficulties in internal integration of existing forces.

In recent weeks, Russia has been bombarding Ukrainian defense lines in eastern Donetsk and Luhansk.

In particular, both countries are suffering massive losses as Russia mobilizes large-scale troops and recruits former convict mercenaries to engage in humanitarian tactics, while Ukraine embarks on a desperate defense.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Ukraine’s Deputy Director of Military Intelligence Vadim Skivitsky said, “Everything is ready” regarding Russia’s mobilization order. said.