Although limited to small villages, Russia's progress in eastern Ukraine destroys the morale of the population, which is eagerly awaiting the American presidential election on November 5. The result could change the course of the war, writes Le Monde, commenting on what is happening on the front in Ukraine.
„Russians are like cockroaches,” said bitterly 48-year-old Andrii, nicknamed “Aristocrat”, who before the war was a manager in a large food company. "They attack every day," he said. Western support for Kyiv remains insufficient compared to the resources used by Moscow.
For several months, the Russian army has been advancing in Donbass, focusing its deadly attacks on an area stretching tens of kilometers from the strategic center of Pokrovsk to the small town of Ugledar (Ukrainian: Vugledar), which was captured in early October. The Russians are advancing on multiple fronts, exploiting weaknesses in Kiev's defenses and encircling Ukrainian soldiers to force them to retreat.
The advancement of Russian forces comes at a high cost in terms of men and equipment. The success of the Russian campaign in the Donbass is largely due to Moscow's traditional advantages in munitions and manpower, along with an apparent disregard for casualties.
In early October, British intelligence said September was the deadliest month for the Russian military since the invasion began in February 2022, with an average of 1,271 soldiers killed or seriously injured per day.
However, Ukrainians note that there has been a transformation in the Russian army in recent months and it is learning from its mistakes. While Russian forces previously favored large, easily visible infantry attacks, a Ukrainian soldier said, “the Russians now advance in groups of four to eight soldiers at most, sometimes just two or three.”. He added: “While you can afford to attack a group of four with artillery, it becomes too expensive when there are only two or three. He also noted improved communication between Russian units and advances in their technological capabilities.
Another game changer, and a much more significant one, is Moscow's extensive use of glide bombs designed to obliterate all Ukrainian defensive positions. They cause massive destruction and Kiev's forces have no way to counter them.
Ukraine's army is also struggling with a shortage of soldiers compared to Moscow's forces. Russia has so far had the luxury of using its resources freely, and Ukraine, with a much smaller population, has limited reserves. Ukrainians hope that the US presidential election can bring change.