Ukrainian forces are currently attempting an extraordinarily difficult tactical operation – a frontal assault against prepared
defensive positions, further complicated by a lack of air superiority –
and these initial assaults should not be extrapolated to predict all
Ukrainian operations. Ukrainian forces are unsurprisingly
taking casualties in initial attacks against some of the best-prepared
Russian forces in Ukraine. However, initial attacks – and particularly
selected footage that Russian sources are intentionally disseminating
and highlighting – are not representative of all Ukrainian operations.
The Russian military remains dangerous and Ukrainian forces certainly
face a hard fight, but Ukraine has not yet committed the vast majority
of its counteroffensive forces and Russian defenses are not uniformly
strong along all sectors of the front line.