Key developments on Aug. 25: * Ukrainian troops have broken through Russian first lines of defense in some areas * Ukraine strikes Russian brigade in Crimea * Russia claims destroying 42 drones over Crimea * Russia launches two strikes against Odesa Oblast overnight * Border Guards: Number of Wagner fighters in Belarus decreases, Lukashenko denies
There are still voices saying just that. One major indicator to me that it is progressing well is that we saw exactly one large column of Bradleys and leopards getting obliterated and that was it. It hasn’t happened again.
Yet, two years in and we still see mechanized and armored columns of the Russian get ripped apart the same way they were two years ago.
Not to mention actually landing soldiers on Crimean soil without any Navy to speak of or hitting the Kerch bridge more often as well as targets on Crimea without having been issued longer range systems for a good year or so. Can only mean they are getting close and safely so to deploy the systems they got.
I recall reading speculation that that one column of Bradleys getting shot up was the Ukrainians basically making a point to the American advisors - “look, this is what happens when we do it your way. We’re the experts at fighting Russians here. We do it our way from here on.” Most of the vehicles that were damaged in that column ended up being salvaged and can be repaired, IIRC, and I bet they protected their crews well. So a pretty brutal way of making a point, but not a hugely costly one in the grand sceme.
Don’t forget that the Ukrainian military is learning and adapting to warfare against the orcs. And becoming more proficient at using the weapons/tools/weather to their advantage.