By Daniel Davis
What Happens Next in the War in Ukraine? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took a significant risk by ordering two counteroffensives earlier this month, one in the Kherson Oblast and one in the Kharkiv Oblast. As discussed in Part I of this analysis (you can read here), conditions were trending against Zelensky and left him with little choice. The Kherson strike group has thus far failed to achieve its objectives. The force that made the attack in the Kharkiv direction caught Russia completely unprepared and provided a dramatic success.
It is essential, however, to understand why the Kherson operation failed, why the Kharkiv attack succeeded, and what the results indicate as the war enters its first winter. Key to ascertaining what comes next will be to examine the likely responses Russia makes, especially to the success in the Kharkiv Oblast.
This piece was originally published in 1945 on September 16, 2022. Read more HERE.