There’s another, arguably bigger, problem which is that Ukraine is a proxy and optics are really important to them. So, instead of pulling troops out of positions that can’t be defended, they just leave them there to the last because they’re afraid western support will drop if they’re seen to be losing.
Armchair general here…
Ukraine is at a material disadvantage, so in order to survive and have a shot at winning, they need to entrench themselves.
So the Russians branch around them and start fighting, and then the Ukrainians retreat due to the flank.
If Ukraine had sufficient force, they could try to stop the branching, but that would require a posture not totally dependent on being entrenched.
There is no counter without the material circumstances to allow it.
There’s another, arguably bigger, problem which is that Ukraine is a proxy and optics are really important to them. So, instead of pulling troops out of positions that can’t be defended, they just leave them there to the last because they’re afraid western support will drop if they’re seen to be losing.
good bot