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KRAMATORSK, Ukraine — Russian forces have improved their defenses, artillery coordination and air support, setting up a campaign that could look very different from the war’s early days, according to interviews and documents and videos reviewed by The New York Times.
These improvements, Western officials say, will most likely make Russia a tougher opponent, particularly as it fights defensively against Ukraine’s counteroffensive. This turn is a far cry from Russia’s initial plan for a full-scale invasion and Ukrainian defeat.
Interviews with 17 Ukrainian soldiers, a Russian prisoner of war, officers, foreign fighters and Western officials, as well as a review of documents and videos, show that, in recent months, the Kremlin’s gains, especially in Bakhmut, have come in part because of a series of adaptations.
Russia won ground early in the war, which began in February 2022, with sheer firepower. But that shifted, as its campaign was marked by disorderly tactics that led to costly losses. A recent ambush was part of a patient, disciplined operation, a sign that Russia was learning from its mistakes and adapting to Ukrainian tactics, having grossly underestimated them initially.
Russian armored columns, for instance, no longer rush into areas where they can be quickly damaged or destroyed. Troops are more often using drones and probing attacks — and sometimes just shouting — to find Ukrainian trenches before striking. And the mercenary Wagner Group has shown an ability to outpace Ukrainian defenders with a combination of improved tactics and disposable ranks.
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The New York Times
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