ISW: Ukraine's attempt to seize the initiative is grounded in operational expediency

Ukraine must wrest the initiative from Russian occupiers on the battlefield. However, delays in providing Western assistance will hinder the efforts of the Defense Forces.

This was outlined in a recent report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

According to analysts, Ukraine’s attempt to seize the initiative in 2024 is justified in terms of operational expediency.

«Russia will continue to dictate the place, time, scale, and requirements for combat operations in Ukraine as long as it maintains the initiative across the entire theater. This could force Ukraine into reactive defensive operations, depleting its resources and hindering its ability to accumulate the necessary material for future counteroffensive operations», — the report states

ISW firmly asserts that Ukraine should not relinquish the initiative in the theater of operations to Russia for longer than necessary. However, experts caution that further delays in the provision of Western security assistance are likely to impede Ukraine’s efforts to regain the initiative.

«The shortage of materiel is compelling Ukrainian forces to fortify positions, and uncertainty about future assistance is likely to limit Ukrainian operational planning. Delays in critical aid will force Ukraine to make tough decisions on resource allocation between future operationally significant counteroffensive operations and ongoing defensive operations against Russian attackers who currently hold the initiative», — said ISW analysts.

As reported, Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk, the Commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, announced on March 6th that Ukraine would strive to seize the initiative and conduct counteroffensive operations in 2024.