Ukrainian troop positions spark counteroffensive speculation

Not suggesting Russia doesn't know where the Ukrainian forces are massing, wouldn't one think whatever the first move is its a feint hiding a 2nd or even 3rd move

Ukrainian troop positions spark counteroffensive speculation

apnews.com...

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian military forces have successfully established positions on the eastern side of the Dnieper River, according to a new analysis, giving rise to speculation Sunday that the advances could be an early sign of Kyiv’s long-awaited spring counteroffensive.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, reported late Saturday that geolocated footage from pro-Kremlin military bloggers indicated that Ukrainian troops had established a foothold near the town of Oleshky, along with “stable supply lines” to their positions.

Analysts widely believe that if Ukraine goes ahead with a spring counteroffensive, a major goal would be to break through the land corridor between Russia and the annexed Crimean Peninsula, which would necessitate crossing the Dnieper River in the country’s south.

Responding to Ukrainian media reports proclaiming that the establishment of such positions indicated the counteroffensive had begun, Natalia Humeniuk, the spokeswoman for Ukraine’s Operational Command South, called for patience.

While neither confirming nor denying the ISW report, she said only that details of military operations in the Dnieper delta couldn’t be disclosed for operational and security reasons.

a reply to: putnam6

Sounds kind of like the beginnings of a DMZ.

However, in my meager understanding of war tactics, their infrastructure and resourcing, perhaps it is readying itself for an offensive.

I do know that the west has dumped incalcuable amounts of resources into Ukraine.

a reply to: JinMI

Seems their bosses are desperate on attacking areas around/surrounding Crimea.

Ukraine losing bakhmut is a big loss.