Russia ramps up for major counterattack as Ukraine's advance stalls
A detailed analysis of the front situation suggests that the Russians are preparing to retake areas controlled by Ukraine. Putin's army has limited troop movements in Donbas and Zaporizhzhia, which could signal a strong counterattack in the Kursk region, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces have struck.
Since August, Ukrainian armed forces have been attacking more towns in the Kursk region. In total, the Ukrainian army has seized over 580 square miles of land in the Russian Federation.
Recently, the impressive charge has lost momentum. Since early September, Ukrainians have made only symbolic gains. Moreover, the Russians have already managed to retake some of the land controlled by Ukraine.
Russia might be preparing for a major counterattack to regain lost territory. The Russian army has increased the number of soldiers to 40,000, and more forces are arriving in border towns. This could be just the beginning of a broader operation.
Is Russia preparing for a counterattack? The troop movements suggest so
Journalist and war correspondent Marcin Ogdowski points out on the Interia portal that the movements of Russian troops on the front indicate one thing: Vladimir Putin may be thinking about retaking lost territories.
The Russian army has halted, among other things, the offensive on Pokrovsk in Donbas (which is causing significant concern among Ukraine's allies) and reduced the pressure on the front in Zaporizhzhia. Meanwhile, the last linear formations of Vladimir Putin's troops have left Belarus.
Why might the Russian dictator be so keen to retake lost territories? During potential negotiations, Putin wants to take the "land for land" card out of Kyiv's hands. According to experts (e.g., from the Center for Eastern Studies), the war is inevitably approaching where negotiations will be necessary for both sides.
