Zaluzhny states:
The war is now moving to a new stage: it is now in a “positional” warfare of static and attritional fighting, as in the first world war, and no longer an example of “manoeuvre” warfare of movement and speed
This“will benefit Russia, allowing it to rebuild its military power, eventually threatening Ukraine’s armed forces and the state itself”
Russia’s air force has taken “huge losses” with over 550 air-defence systems destroyed, but it maintains “a significant advantage … and continues to build new attack squadrons”
However, Russia’s air-defence systems increasingly prevent Ukrainian planes from flying, with Ukrainian defences doing the same to Russia.
As a result Russian drones have taken over a large part of the role of manned aviation in terms of reconnaissance and air strikes.........
Conclusion
Russia will have superiority in weapons, equipment, missiles and ammunition for a considerable time
Military production from Nato is increasing but production can take a year or two, in the case of aircraft and command-and-control systems
A prolonged positional war carries “enormous risks to Ukraine’s armed forces and to its state”
To prevent that Ukraine needs: air superiority, improved electronic-warfare and counter-battery capabilities, new mine-breaching technology and the ability to mobilise and train more reserves
Zaluzhny states:
New, innovative approaches can turn this war of position back into one of manoeuvre
