The US newspaper analysed Ukraine’s shift in tactics in an article published on Saturday.
In the early stages of its counteroffensive, which began at the start of June, Ukraine lost as much as 20 percent of its Western-provided weapons and armour, The NYT reported, citing US and European officials.
However, in subsequent weeks the rate of losses dropped to 10 percent, thanks to a change in Ukraine’s approach, according to Western officials.
Ukraine changes focus to artillery attacks and long-range missile strikes
Namely, the Ukrainian army has shifted its tactics to focus on attriting Russian forces with artillery and long-range missiles, instead of large-scale attacks, The NYT reported.
This observation is consistent with a recent statement by the Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, said.
In an interview with The Washington Post newspaper on June 14, Zaluzhnyi stated that increased Ukrainian indirect fire can both pin down Russian forces and minimise Ukrainian casualties, according to the ISW.
Earlier this month, the ISW assessed: “Ukrainian forces appear to be focusing on creating an asymmetrical attrition gradient that conserves Ukrainian manpower at the cost of a slower rate of territorial gains, while gradually wearing down Russian manpower and equipment.”
In its latest report on the war in Ukraine, published on Saturday night, the US think tank added: “Ukraine‘s military has likely been refining its counteroffensive strategy for weeks, and the larger effects of those adjustments are only just becoming clear to some observers.”
The US experts concluded: “Ukraine will likely continue to adjust its strategy and execution throughout the counteroffensive to facilitate continued progress.”
Ukraine made gains in three sectors of the front on Saturday: ISW
On Saturday, Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations on at least three sectors of the front and reportedly made limited gains, the ISW said.
Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian troops had made limited gains south of the eastern city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, and crossed the Siverskyi Donetsk Canal in the area.
Moreover, Ukrainian forces had also made limited advances in the border area between the Donetsk region and the southeastern Zaporizhia province, as well as in Zaporizhia, northeast of the village of Robotyne, according to Russian sources, the ISW reported.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Sunday is day 508 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: PAP, The New York Times, ISW, The Washington Post