By Matt Underwood Ukraine dismantles Russian assault on Lyman before it even begins, new artillery brigade turns river crossings into kill zones.
It seems like a consistent theme throughout this conflict – Russia consistently struggles with river crossings. It’s almost as if Ukrainian forces, armed with ample ammunition, are able to effectively neutralize any Russian attempts the moment they reach the water. This isn’t a new development; it’s almost predictable at this point. The Russians are apparently facing a reality check across the board, and it’s a sight to behold. Slava Ukraine, indeed.
This whole scenario just highlights the inherent difficulty of wet gap crossings. They’re complex operations, demanding specific training and specialization, comparable only to combined arms breaches of fortified positions. Historically, militaries have always found these types of operations challenging, and it’s no different today. The headline, in a way, is simply stating the obvious: water is wet. It requires specialized training and Russia doesn’t appear to have prioritized that.
It’s not as though the issue of river crossings is a new phenomenon; in fact, it’s a longstanding challenge for military strategists. With the modern era of drone and satellite surveillance, the task has become even more difficult. Russian forces trying to cross a river are essentially playing a game of hide-and-seek with a technological advantage tilted against them.
Throughout history, there have always been periods of turmoil, wars, and epidemics. While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, it’s also crucial to recognize that this is simply the nature of the human experience. We’ve lived in an age of relatively long calmness, and that’s something to recognize in the face of present challenges. The challenges of the present don’t diminish the fact that every generation has faced trials.
The Lord of the Rings is apt in this scenario, as are Gandalf’s words. We all wish that none of this had happened, but wishing doesn’t change reality. We have to decide what to do with the time given to us, and that means making difficult choices. The core of the story boils down to the fact that in the end, there is good in this world and it is worth fighting for.
There’s a critical point to consider here: in a military context, river crossings are inherently difficult. That’s why armies have used them as natural defensive lines throughout history. Julius Caesar’s crossing of the Rhine was a feat of military engineering for a reason. Today, the dynamics are drastically different, with modern technology completely changing the battlefield.
Wet gap crossings are extremely complex, requiring specialized training and proficiency. This is where the advantages of an alliance like NATO come into play. Smaller countries within NATO can specialize in specific skillsets rather than attempting to be proficient in everything. For example, Lithuania and Latvia regularly train on wet gap crossings. They can provide a niche that bigger militaries can leverage.
The idea that Russia can’t handle river crossings today isn’t simply because rivers are inherently difficult to cross. The modern battlefield is a completely different environment than it was even during World War II. We have continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, along with precision fires. Troop concentrations are now being targeted before they even have a chance to reach the river.
The sheer speed with which information now travels means that it’s easier to be aware of events worldwide. However, this has always been the case, it just used to be more difficult to hear about it. Humans used to live in a world of a more brutal environment, but not because there was less conflict.
It’s important to note that even during World War II, rivers were a natural barrier, and overcoming them was an extremely costly endeavor. The modern battlefield doesn’t even compare, with tools and technological advantages that make those that existed during World War II seem primitive.
This extends to intelligence gathering as well. Intelligence agencies today don’t necessarily aim to be self-sufficient but focus on specializing in certain fields, working with their allies to fill in the gaps. This allows them to develop expertise in specific areas.
This is where the United States stands out. The U.S. military is capable of operating almost entirely on its own. This is a critical advantage for a military alliance, and it’s part of the reason why European nations are more cautious when it comes to criticizing the U.S. The U.S. provides a crucial foundation of support, covering everything from intelligence to specialized operations, to equipment procurement.
Ultimately, Ukraine’s advantage lies in constant surveillance and precision weaponry. The modern battlefield has changed, and now they have the ability to monitor the entire river and eliminate targets in the dark. This changes the dynamic for everyone involved. The modern weapons and munitions available today are an order of magnitude greater than those used in the past.