But how did Ukraine manage to slow down the advance of Russian troops?
Analysts say Russia is far more powerful than Ukraine in terms of military numbers. Nevertheless, in the war against Russia, some things have worked to make Ukraine's forces 'better'. These include good preparation, national unity and Russia's mistakes. Their combined effect has slowed Russia's progress in Ukraine. Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24. Today, March 9, is the 14th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Where this war ends, what the future holds, is still unclear. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that Russia's military operation in Ukraine will continue until Moscow's goals are met. A senior French military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russian forces were not advancing too fast in Ukraine. But on the basis of this situation, they cannot be said to have failed now. At some point in the war, they may be able to go on a reorganized attack.
The AFP news agency has identified five reasons why Ukraine has so far been able to stem the tide of Russian military advance. Preparation
In 2014, Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine through a "surprise" operation. At the time, pro-Russian separatists took control of parts of eastern Ukraine. After the incident, Ukraine began to strengthen its armed forces with the help of the West.
In 2016, NATO and Kiev launched a training program for Ukrainian special forces. Ukraine's special forces now number about 2,000. The force is now able to assist the country's civilian volunteers in the war. Douglas London, an associate professor at Georgetown University in the United States, said Ukrainians had spent the past eight years planning, training and equipping themselves to prevent Russian occupation.
The former US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) official wrote in Foreign Affairs that the United States and NATO could not come to the rescue of Kiev on the battlefield, realizing that Ukraine was looking at strategies on how to defeat Moscow, how to thwart its occupation.
Local knowledge
Ukraine was once part of the Soviet Union. Moscow went to war in Ukraine based on the knowledge and understanding of that Soviet era. They appear to have underestimated the advantage of the Ukrainian forces' home field. Russia has made a mistake in relation to what territorial difficulties it would have to face if it attacked Ukraine. Russia's thinking about the ability of the local people to take up arms against the invading forces is also wrong.
In such a situation of irregular warfare a weak force can take maximum advantage of the local advantages against their strong opponent. In this context, Spencer Meredith, a professor at the College of International Security Affairs, said that Ukraine's forces were gaining ground against Russian forces by gaining territorial advantage, local knowledge and social connections. When Russian forces seek to infiltrate cities such as the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, the challenge for Moscow will be exacerbated by the start of urban fighting.
According to French military sources, this is what changed everything. Russian forces will cause problems in every corner of the street, in every building. Solidarity
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is leading the fight against Russian aggression. Despite risking his life, he remained in the capital, Kiev. He has been able to motivate Ukrainians to build strong resistance against Russian aggression. In order to fight against Russia, the common people of Ukraine are showing courage on the battlefield with arms. These ordinary citizens of Ukraine are voluntarily fighting to defend the country.
Various images of the struggle of the common people of Ukraine are coming online. They are firing AK-47 rifles, making Molotov cocktails or creating roadblocks.
Retired French Colonel Michel Goa said Ukraine had no choice but to quickly train regional troops and enhance their combat capabilities through the use of light weapons. Strategic error
Military analysts say Russia made a strategic mistake in the early days of the invasion of Ukraine. They sent very few ground troops to Ukraine in the early stages of the war. The Russian ground and air forces also failed to work together.
Within days of the start of the war, Moscow was expected to achieve military success. But that war is now almost two weeks away.
Michael Kaufman, director of the Russia Studies program at the US Center for Naval Analysis, said Russia initially thought it would soon be able to activate a Russian unit in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. But soon they are pushed.
Michael Kaufmann said: "The speculation was ridiculous ... How could you occupy Kiev in three days? Russia's military is now adjusting to the situation. They are trying to run it as a joint armed operation. " Psychological reasons
Russia has sounded alarm bells around the world, deploying tens of thousands of troops along the Ukrainian border in the weeks leading up to the attack.
But very few Russian troops stationed on the Ukrainian border had the idea that they would be sent to fight in a neighboring country. Many Russian soldiers have been killed in the war in Ukraine. This number is higher than Russia thinks.
Kiev claims that more than 11,000 Russian troops have been killed since the start of the offensive in Ukraine. This claim of Ukraine could not be verified. However, no statement was received from Russia in this regard. The massive casualties of the Russian army have caused a loss of morale. According to French sources, in this situation, Russia's top military officials are being forced to visit the battlefield.
Tom Pepinsky, a non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said the evidence so far indicated that Ukraine's treatment of Russian prisoners of war could be more severe.
"The Ukrainian resistance will be most effective if the Russians are under pressure, have to stay awake, are over-reactive," said Tom Pepinsky.
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