Ukrainian Counteroffensive Slowed

4 min readJun 21, 2023

During the previous two weeks of June 2023, Ukraine made gains in the area around Bakhmut and Zaporizhia. In the east of Ukraine, Ukraine’s army has captured the town of P’Yatkhatky these are not significant gains.

Still, the town’s capture in eastern Ukraine shows that the Ukrainian military is looking for witnesses and has advanced along the Russian Federation’s defensive lines.

According to the Washington Post Ukrainian military has reported that the Ukrainian army has paused military operations.

This could be Ukrainian counterintelligence trying to make the Russians believe that Ukrainians will launch an attack in a different location or as a means to surprise the Russians, thereby forcing the Russians who spread their defensive lines thin.

‘Those who defend everything will defend nothing’ is a quote from King Frederick the Great of Prussia.

The Russians being unaware of where the hammer blow of the Ukrainian counteroffensive takes place may force the political leadership in the Kremlin to make political decisions that weaken the Russian defensive lines in eastern Ukraine.

This kind of tactic has been used previously; for example, during the first Gulf War from 1990 to 1991, US military leadership publicised their military plans and the news and did press conferences to give misleading information to the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Also, during World War II, the Allied intelligence convinced Nazi Germany that the Normandy landings were not taking place in Normandy but at Calais, which is a port city and the closest link between England and France that is closest to each other landmass.

The Americans achieved their objective by putting one of their top field commanders George Patton and command of fake armies to convince Nazis that an invasion force was heading Calais.

Another reason for the success was that it was perceived as more feasible for the Allies to capture a port city or an important port that would be more practical when supplying an invading army to France.

Historically England used Calais during the Hundred Years War (1337 to 1453) to invade northern France. ‘The first penalty of war is the truth forward, attributed to the ex-governor of California, Hiram Johnson.

Gains of Ukrainian Counteroffensive

Two places with Ukrainians at the most success during the Ukrainian counteroffensive are Bakhmut and Zaporizhia. However, it’s important not to overstate Ukrainian achievements because they have only advanced a few kilometres and have recaptured no significant settlements.

Ukrainians, in the past few months, have made gains in the north and south of Bakhmut, with excellent progress in the south with the Ukrainians heading towards the town of Klishchivka and the West of Bakhmut Ukrainians are gaining territory in the direction of Yakhmut.

According to Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar, Ukrainian advances to the east are forcing more Russian Federation soldiers to be deployed around Bakhmut.

This could allow the Ukrainians to advance towards Zaporizhia and apply the maximum of Sun Tzu. The ancient Chinese general and strategist stated, ‘All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near’.

As is the case, then it could be believed that the Ukrainian counteroffensive, especially if the American planning and intelligence behind Ukrainian military action, is that the Bakhmut campaign could be a significant diversion for the true Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Ukrainian deployments to Zaporizhia have taken the areas around P’Yatkhatky, which could be a springboard towards Vasylivka and in advance to Tokmak, which is a significant supply point for the Russian military in Southern Ukraine should previous objectives be achieved.