The battlefield in Ukraine is revealing a calculated Russian strategy focused not on spectacular advances, but on the methodical dismantling of Ukraine's war-making infrastructure. Colonel AC Ogintoy provides unprecedented clarity on this approach, detailing how Russian forces executed four precision strike packages targeting energy facilities, fuel depots, transportation networks, and drone assembly centers between September 13-19.
What emerges is a portrait of warfare that prioritizes the erosion of capabilities over headline-grabbing territorial gains. "The strategy was not just about attriting frontline combatants, but dismantling the systems that keep those combatants supplied and informed," explains Colonel Ogintoy. This systematic degradation manifests across all fronts: 42 ammunition depots destroyed in the north, 60 electronic warfare systems neutralized in the west, and the liberation of multiple settlements including Moravka in Donetsk and Novonikolivka in the east.
Most revealing is the Colonel's assessment of what these actions signify. The destruction of logistics hubs represents "hours lost in rearming artillery, days lost in rotating personnel, and weeks lost in reconstituting combat power." Meanwhile, targeting Western-supplied communications equipment and armor "complicates NATO's ability to integrate equipment into cohesive Ukrainian battlegroups." The Russian air defense interception of 1,667 drones and multiple HIMARS rockets demonstrates defensive resilience against Ukraine's saturation strategy. Colonel Ogintoy leaves listeners with a sobering question: can Ukraine's allies replenish these losses quickly enough to offset Russia's campaign of strategic denial? For military analysts and those tracking this conflict, this episode provides essential context for understanding the current phase of operations and potential developments on the horizon.