On initial contact with attacking Ukrainian forces, Russian troops appeared to retrograde to secondary defensive positions.
The Ukrainians advanced, but were stymied by prepared defensive positions with minefields, anti-tank guided missiles, artillery, and air strikes.
The stalled Ukrainian offense was then vulnerable to Russian counterattack, forcing the Ukrainians back to their original lines.
This illustrates the Russian forces’ 1st-echelon defensive line with a pre-planned second belt.
The Russians retrograde to the second belt as the attackers seize the first positions.
The Ukrainian forces are now in pre-targeted positions with victim or command-detonated mines.
With the attack stalled and vulnerable, the Russians’ planned counterattack launches.
This tactic seems relatively effective - particularly with an aggressive attacker, although it might be more accurately characterized as a maneuver defense.
Sources:
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/portals/7/hot%20spots/documents/russia/2017-07-the-russian-way-of-war-grau-bartles.pdf
https://twitter.com/Tatarigami_UA/status/1629722073487613953?s=20
https://m.censor.net/ru/news/3386414/minoborony_rossii_izdalo_metodichku_po_shturmovym_deyistviyam_po_opytu_voyiny_protiv_ukrainy_document
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/03/world/europe/russia-ukraine-elastic-defense-counteroffensive.html
https://time.com/6300772/ukraine-counteroffensive-can-still-succeed/
https://www.csis.org/analysis/seizing-initiative-ukraine-waging-war-defense-dominant-world
https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Wild-Blue-Yonder/Article-Display/Article/3262857/kursk-20-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-defense-in-depth/
https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-elastic-defense-tactic-is-effective-against-ukraine-nyt-2023-10
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TRADOC, ThreatMinutes, Russia, Shorts, InTheNews
| Date Taken: | 03.22.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 05.05.2026 14:21 |
| Category: | Video Productions |
| Video ID: | 1005546 |
| VIRIN: | 240322-D-A0621-7726 |
| Filename: | DOD_111681050 |
| Length: | 00:00:57 |
| Location: | US |
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