One or 2 offensives? Ukrainian art of building an advantage [ANALYSIS]

The Ukrainian offensive close Kharkiv was a surprise not so much due to the fact of its carrying out, but as for the effects it achieved. Counter-attacks by Ukrainian forces have happened before. Under favorable tactical conditions, the defenders were able to successfully attack Russian forces, e.g. close Kiev, where they prevented the closing of the encirclement ringing around the city with a amazing strike, a akin situation was erstwhile Russian units were pushed beyond the state border north of Kharkov. However, no of these actions were decisive for changing the situation at the strategical level, at best improved the tactical situation and fit into the definition of active maneuver defence - writes Col. Rez. Piotr Lewandowski.