Will Ukraine's counteroffensive be complete by the end of September?

Sharing in an article on 19FortyFive, former US Armed Forces officer Daniel Davis said that the Ukrainian army has exhausted almost all its potential, the “expected” counter-offensive that began on June 5 by the Ukrainian Armed Forces is almost over. After nearly 3 months, it is now possible to make some preliminary assessments of the results of Kiev’s offensive, as well as assess the potential developments of the conflict that will take place in the rest of 2023.

“The bottom line is this: With the high casualty rate and the approaching rainy season, the Ukrainian counteroffensive will likely be complete before the end of September. The end result of the massive Ukrainian counteroffensive is small gains in some areas. From a strategic perspective, thousands of kilometers along the front line have remained largely unchanged since the beginning of 2023,” said former US officer Daniel Davis.

Ukraine launched a full-scale counteroffensive on June 5 on a broad front, focusing on four main axes of attack: Kamianske in the west, Orikhiv and Velyka Novoilka in the center, and Bakhmut in the north. Ukraine is said to have assembled 12 mechanized brigades for the operation, with a strength of up to 40,000 troops. They spent almost half a year preparing for the attack, and their preparations included training in NATO countries.

The US officer noted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have practically exhausted most of their military potential, barely reaching the village of Rabotino in the Zaporozhye region. The expert expressed doubts whether Kiev will have enough resources to advance a little further, holding its flanks against Russian counterattacks?

“Ukraine will most likely have to end all its efforts. It may soon have to return to a defensive posture to hold its territory,” Daniel Davis explained.