Ukraine changes counteroffensive tactics to avoid heavy loss of servicemen and equipment – NYT

During the first two weeks of the Ukrainian army's counteroffensive, up to 20% of the military equipment sent to the battlefield was damaged or destroyed, US and European officials said. Western military vehicles were among the losses.

Source. This was reported by The New York Times.

Later, the losses dropped to about 10%. This was due to a change in Ukraine's tactics, more active use of artillery and long-range missiles to deplete russian forces. However, losses have also decreased due to a slowdown in the counteroffensive, the newspaper writes.

This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the slowdown in operations. He blamed it on a shortage of equipment and ammunition and called on Western allies to speed up supplies.

US officials note that Ukrainians have begun to move again, but more cautiously, more skillfully avoiding minefields and assessing the risks to their lives.

They say that with the US providing cluster munitions, the pace of the Ukrainian army's advance could increase.

Problems arise in the fields in southern Ukraine, where Bradley infantry fighting vehicles hit anti-tank mines on a daily basis, according to soldiers who have used these vehicles on the battlefield. At the same time, Bradley has successfully done part of its job: its armor has provided good protection for most soldiers who have successfully crossed minefields, the publication notes.

Background. Bloomberg reported that Ukraine is catching up with russia in terms of tanks and artillery – Ukraine's tank fleet has grown since the beginning of the invasion, while russia's tank fleet has been halved.