Russia deployed highly mobile small units, using motorbikes and civilian cars to penetrate the enemy's defense. Unexpected movements around the city of Kostyantynivka and Sumy province in Ukraine signal a new chapter in the conflict that has lasted for more than 3 years.
According to the DeepState military analysis team of Ukraine, in May alone, Russia gained about 450 square kilometres of territory - double that of April, mainly south of Kostyantynivka (Donetsk region) and near the Russian border in Sumy.
Notably, instead of having heavily armed steel vehicles as before, the current combat groups are only 2-3 soldiers, breaking in in small, lightning-fast and continuous phases.
This is the revival of Cavalry but with internal combustion engines - Colonel Viktor Kevliuk, an expert at the Center for Defense Strategy of Ukraine, said.
In Sumy, Russia has taken at least 12 small villages with steady progress and increased pressure. With rugged terrain filled with mountain cracks and limited trails, the fighting became extremely fierce. Currently, more than 200,000 people in Sumy City are facing the risk of being evacuated if Russia captures key villages such as Khotyn, Yunakivka, Pysarivka and Kyyanytsia - which are the " gateway to the old forest" in the north of the city.
Not far away, at Kostyantynivka - a key command center of Ukraine, Russia is gradually tightening its surrounding by semi- Bailiaments from many directions, east, west and north. The goal is to cut off and exhaust Ukrainian forces, while making providing reinforcements impossible. Strategic routes such as T-0504 have become the focus in both eyes.
Some areas around Kostyantynivka recorded a force difference of up to 20-1 in favor of Russia. Ukrainian soldiers continuously had to fight at a low level, withdraw with control and endure 10-15 attacks per week.
Meanwhile, the Russian air force also increased the attack pace from 11 attacks/day (early May) to 17 attacks/day in June, despite Ukraine's announcement of destroying a series of strategic bombs.
In Pokrovsk (west of Kostyantynivka), the situation is not much better. Russia continues to apply the strategy of "taking advantage of each step" - from isolating, destroying supplies with drones, to launching artillery before advancing by motorbike. Hot spots in Donetsk and Lugansk are turning into a stage for high-intensity, fast-paced, and fast-paced battles.
Ukraine is facing a difficult problem: How to stop this rapid advance when the opponent is both large and has applied flexible tactics like in the Cavalry era but with mechanical equipment.
