Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 9

[GregariousGroundhog]

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-september-9

Five key points from the Institute for the Study of War are excerpted below, but they go into much greater depth in the actual article linked above. They post updates daily, and since good news regarding the Ukrainian counter offensive has been in the media the last couple of days, I figured I'd post this here to give them some visibility. They are really a great resource.

Ukrainian forces have captured an estimated 2,500 square kilometers in Kharkiv Oblast in the Kharkiv area counteroffensive as of September 9.

Ukrainian forces may collapse Russian positions around Izyum if they sever Russian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) north and south of Izyum.

The Kremlin is rushing resources to the Kharkiv City-Izyum line in an attempt to halt Ukrainian advances after Ukrainian forces achieved remarkable operational surprise.

The Kremlin is refusing to publicly address Ukrainian successes in Kharkiv Oblast, but the counteroffensive likely prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to convene a meeting with top Russian security and political officials on September 9.[7]

Ukraine’s counteroffensive operation in Kherson Oblast to degrade Russian forces on the Southern Axis is continuing simultaneously with Ukrainian operations on the Kharkiv City-Izyum line.

[Postal Grunt]

1. Ukrainian troops are fast on their feet

It's difficult to keep up with the progress of the Ukraine's counter offensive. Kupyansk is confirmed as being in Ukraine's control, UKR troops are being reported to control most of Izyum as Russian forces are abandoning the city, Lyman is another town that is being talked about as in UKR hands, and Vovchansk, another important rail head for logistics and close to the Russian border, may already be in UKR control. There is always Fog of War to take into consideration in these reports. However, few thought it possible for the Ukraine to achieve so much in such a short time only a week ago. It' still too early to declare what appears to be a rout as a collapse of the Russian army.