Is Ukraine’s strategy masking a larger plan? A closer look at counter-offensives and broader aims

Analysts at the Institute for War Studies observe that Kiev’s recent counter-offensive attempts have often lacked decisive breakthroughs. Instead, these moves are seen as calculated maneuvers aimed at masking the true direction of a future, larger operation from the enemy. In their assessment, Kyiv has long accepted that its Armed Forces are short on the necessary number of mechanized units to launch a rapid strike capable of breaking through Russian defenses in the Kherson region or other sectors. This awareness has pushed Ukrainian commanders to pursue a more nuanced approach.