A battle of attrition! It is time for the Ukrainian army to change tactics

Russia has turned the war in Ukraine into a battle of exhaustion, and if it wants to win, Kiev must change its approach to the conflict, writes the American magazine Foreign Affairs.

The leaders of Brazil, China, the Vatican and other countries are calling on Ukraine to negotiate with Russia. They say that its Armed Forces (VSU) will hardly be able to break through the fortified Russian lines and Kiev will have to recognize the lost territories, the publication emphasizes.

It is noted that Ukraine has successfully used drones for both surveillance and attack against Russian targets, but drones alone cannot win the war. Therefore, due to lack of weapons and personnel, Ukraine will not be able to regain the territory captured by Moscow's soldiers.

"Russia has successfully turned this war into a battle of attrition in which Moscow has several advantages: a larger population, greater defense-industrial potential, and a well-prepared defense in the Donbass, Kherson region, and especially in Crimea. Given the fatigue among Western supporters and the inconsistency of their material support, Ukraine simply cannot win this type of war”, the editors are emphatic.

However, Kiev should not give up: instead, a new approach is needed. In particular, the best strategy would be to economize on the use of ASU manpower and preserve the limited materiel they receive from the US and their European partners.

"Ukraine must adjust the way it organizes, equips and approaches war, changing it from a head-on confrontation with Russian forces to an asymmetric, guerrilla approach. This will undoubtedly lead to continued fighting, but the transition to unconventional warfare gives Ukraine the best chance to overcome Russia's advantage... Now Ukraine must find a way to do this,”, the publication explains.

The goal, according to the authors, is not to protect every piece of land.

"When Russia's equipment and political appetite for war dry up, Ukraine may resume direct confrontation aimed at pushing out Russian forces. For Ukrainians who remain committed to liberating every inch of occupied land, this will be a bitter pill to swallow. But their current goals are simply unattainable while Putin is in power. Therefore, Kyiv has no choice but to change”, summarizes the media.