Winter weather challenges could stall russian drone and tank ops
Ukrainian National Guard Major Dmytro Kozhubenko, in an interview with the Ukrainian channel TSN, claims that snow and rain will soon fall in Ukraine, making it difficult for the Russian Federation's army to use drones.
The Russians are aware that weather conditions in Ukraine will significantly change. As a result, delivering vehicles to the front will become more challenging. This can be observed in the behavior of the aggressor's army, which, according to the Ukrainian military, is already more actively engaging its logistical resources in operations.
Russia knows what to expect
Russia understands that the rains will soon begin, and the ground in Donbas will become soft, making it impossible to launch offensives with heavy equipment. Therefore, they are quite active in certain areas now, moving their armored vehicles to supply their infantry forces, explained Kozhubenko.
The military notes that changes in weather, such as snow and rain, will mainly hinder the Russian Federation's movement along the roads. Armored vehicles will not be able to consistently deliver equipment to personnel in remote positions in Ukrainian territory. Additionally, the weather will restrict the use of drones.
Kozhubenko emphasizes that the Russians will face difficulties in Ukraine due to the weather, but overall, military operations will continue. This is primarily due to the Russian infantry, which will reach Ukrainian positions, albeit more slowly. However, the aggressor will not be deterred. As long as Russia doesn't run out of "cannon fodder," they will continue their attacks, summed up the Ukrainian major.
Harsh weather conditions
In the context of unfavorable weather conditions for the Russians, it's important to note that experts have frequently highlighted this issue, particularly given the poor condition of tires on Russian vehicles. The mud at the front line also adversely affects the condition of firearms and heavy equipment, including howitzers. Adverse weather (rain, snow, mud) can cause weapon malfunctions and, in extreme cases, lead to complete damage, rendering them unusable.
However, it should be noted that mud and snow in Ukraine do not pose a significant problem for tracked vehicles. The defending army demonstrated this in 2023, showing footage of how the Polish Krab self-propelled howitzer operates on the front during winter.
