https://www.yahoo.com/news/vladimir-put ... 00881.htmlAnother concern is that, while Russian forces have performed abysmally – thwarted by low troop morale, inadequate numbers, badly maintained equipment, clumsy tactics, substandard battle discipline, poor logistics, the stiffest Ukrainian resistance and an unexpectedly united effort from the West – some Ukrainian reports from the front indicate the Russians have been learning hard lessons and making much needed improvements, at least at the level of battle tactics and discipline. The Russian army was bleeding before, but it appointed new commanders and – as in the Second World War – may be recovering from its earlier disasters.
We must therefore be prepared for significant Russian gains in the coming weeks. We need to be realistic about how bad things could be – otherwise the shock risks dislodging Western resolve. The opposite occurred last summer and autumn, as flagging support in parts of Europe and the US was galvanised by Ukrainian success.
The West's worst fears about a Russian resurgence failed to materialize. They suffered a serious defeat attacking the town of Vuhledar, and have made progress capturing Bakhmut only at terrible cost. Ukrainian troops continue to say the Russians are suffering from serious problems with tactics and morale, and Russian forces continue arriving at the front lines with obsolete equipment.
