Having said that, Ukraine might surprise us again, there are still some brigades missing, Tokmak is the obvious push but Ukraine is still spread out pushing in multiple directions, when they find a breach they'll probably flood it, and it might not end up being Tokmak direction, Ukraine has took us by surprise before already and attacked somewhere we wasn't looking.
Can't really predict anything for certain, I remember how Kharkhiv took us by surprise, how some in the media were dooming Kherson push, then suddenly a Russian retreat. It could be a weeks or months long brutal grind and suddenly a major development. We're going to need patience and trust in Ukraine and NATO allies. Prepare ourselves for some brutal losses.
Zaluzhnyi has proven himself Imho and I trust any mistakes which crop up will be corrected, I remember everyone saying Ukraine should abandon Bakhmut too, me included, but now it is largely considered by the same people as a success in grinding down Russian forces and became a useless victory for Russia, especially with Ukraine advancing around it now.
Biggest issue is some Ukrainian Commanders will still have Soviet thinking in their heads, Zaluzhnyi needs to stamp that out. It's a good sign that most of the new brigades are led by younger Ukrainians who are more easily adaptable rather than being stuck in their ways and will learn from experience. I trust in Zaluzhnyi's plan, whatever that is.
It was our countries fault for dragging their feet and letting Russia build up their defences and it will be our countries fault more Ukrainians are dying that needed but I believe Ukraine will still win. It just won't be in this offensive or this year. I hope Ukraine can at least take Tokmak because of the pressure it would place on Russians, a combined arms offensive with air superiority would be a lot easier (which America had, but still lost a bunch of equipment).
I'm upset by the loss of the Iris-T more than Leopard's, I don't understand why it was close enough for a Lancet to hit it. I hope Ukraine can get more Patriots and quickly, especially when USA has hundreds of launchers, Lol. Technically 1,106 launchers but 483 in service and there is typically 8 launchers per battery so they can afford Ukraine a few more quite easily.
Last edited by Ryuu96 - on 09 June 2023
