Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, chief of the defence staff, said a Ukraine victory depended on it being able to outlast Russia
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin warns of long war after Ukraine counteroffensive failed to achieve decisive breakthrough
Russian defences in Ukraine have been stronger than the West anticipated, the head of the British armed forces has admitted.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the chief of the defence staff, suggested expectations may need to be “adjusted” about what Kyiv can achieve in the short term after the counteroffensive failed to deliver the decisive breakthrough many hoped for at the beginning of the summer.
Radakin yesterday accompanied Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, to Ukraine. It was Shapps’s first visit to Kyiv since he replaced Ben Wallace earlier this month.
President Zelensky met Grant Shapps in the latter’s first visit to Ukraine as defence secretary UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE/PA
The trip was an opportunity for Shapps to meet both President Zelensky and Rustem Umerov, the new Ukrainian defence secretary. Umerov replaced Oleksii Reznikov earlier this year after the military was embroiled in a series of
DRO1019 on October 1st, 2023 at 18:43 UTC »
Well, yeah, the second largest army in the world shouldn't be underestimated. Especially when they only had to travel less than 200 miles and know the landscape.
cookiemikester on October 1st, 2023 at 18:18 UTC »
Anytime I’ve listened to the telegraph, Michael koffman, etc they’ve all said how strong the Surovikin Line is. anytime someone has suggested the Russian military was incompetent, or not learning from the war, it was always pointed out that their dug-in lines are very well made. Maybe more mainstream pieces have downplayed the Russian defense? I just haven’t seen it suggested that it would be easy. The only unknown was what kind of reserves Russia has to fill gaps and counter attack.
Hokum-B on October 1st, 2023 at 14:57 UTC »
Submission statement: British defense minister admits Russian defensive lines have been stronger and more complex than western intelligence has thought previously. Ukraine now close to 4 months long offensive has stalled with little to show for.