Ukraine’s defences are thin - so why is Russia not winning? | Defence in Depth

On March 4 the Kremlin said it would not be deploying its latest tank, the T-14 Armata, into Ukraine.

Even though Russia currently has the upper hand in the war and despite claiming the T-14 is the most sophisticated tank in the world Moscow has refused to use it in the ongoing war. Why?

One reason is that the loss to drones of such a prestigious piece of equipment would dent Putin’s image of invincibility. Anti-drone technology is improving all the time, but the pendulum might be about to swing back to the airborne killers. Advances in AI whereby Automatic Target Recognition allows a drone to find a target even if it is being jammed are just around the corner.

Even so, Ukraine is vulnerable right now. Kyiv’s forces have not built sophisticated defensive fortifications and obstacle belts like Russia’s so-called Surovikin Line. They are starting now, with a huge cash injection, but is it too late?

In the race to build decent defences against the ongoing Russian assault, will it matter that the T-14 is not going to be making an appearance in the war?

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[badsmeb]

the video didn't even attempt to answer the title's question

[nowthenzen]

The same Generals who think digging in erodes the fighting spirit are the same ones who wonder why all their troops are dead.

[AethelwulfOfNordHymbraLand]

Ever heard of ‘war of attrition’? Results aren't typically visible to the general public.

[KosovoJeSrbija]

I'm honestly sorry for people who unironically use the telegraph as a source of information

[nicolascoenen]

Dude is narrating war like its a comedy show, what a disgrace....

[jaislandviewer]

Weren't these the same people laughing at Russian defensive lines? and... How could 'defense is failure' be a Russian doctrine of war when they basically burned their own towns to defeat Napolean. Get your facts straight.

[elzorroof]

9 mins 30. again this guy does not know what he is talking about. Soviet battle doctrine has always emphasised deep battle tactics and defence in depth to absorb the enemy. Kursk ffs... Is this guy getting paid to spout sh*t? The Russian generals walked Napoleon deeper and deeper before engaging.

[PaulV.]

T-14s are not used by Russia for the simple reason - the tank is still basically a prototype that hasn't entered a mass production. There were only 20 vehicles manufactured as of 2022 and after the war started Russians switched to making the cheaper T-90s and upgrading the existing T-72s. However why are the perfectly available and already supplied to Ukraine Challenger 2s not used and the British MoD specifically asked Ukrainians not to use them "on risky missions" is another question. So the pun coming from the British journalist is actually quite hilarious.

[CDOP-stqe]

Your definition of winning is quite different from that of Russia.

[srlockheed]

Telegraph trying to 'Ukraine is winning but still needs help'

[nbcohsg]

My man said "Tank" and put a picture of steven segal.

[sese]

Sky is not blue, according to The Telegraph.

[EnoBarjami]

It’s interesting how they start making this war a sort of ‘entertainment’…

[davidbracewell]

"Russia not winning"? Didn't know the Telegraph did graveyard humour.

[gayan]

Ukrainian offensive going backwards while Russians are retreating forward- The Telegraph.

[shonemumy]

That's rich coming from a media of a country that has less than 200 operational tanks.

[diegoflores]

Russia continues taking Ukrainian fortified positions and the telegraph says Russia is not winning.

[Artem_Petrov_RUS]

Ukraine. 194595 square mile for testing modern weapons. A unique training ground where all arms manufacturers came running with their products.

[samuelpenniman]

I wouldn’t say russia isn’t winning..I mean they struck Ukraine with missiles and Kharkiv officials are saying it could take weeks or months to get it back online. Not to mention the Russian momentum since taking Avdivka doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all, in fact they are able to use unguided FABs for the first time in Kharkiv since 2022

[AniMageNeBy]

Not winning? This last month alone, they conquered Avdiivka, Sieverne, Lastochkine, Opytne, Vodiane, Tonenke, etc. Seems hardly a losing stroke, thus. And the defenses of Avdiivka were anything but thin; they were one of the most elaborate of any city the Ukrainians have defended. The title makes no sense, thus, unless it was meant as clickbait.

As for not letting the T-14 fight there: it's partly due to not wanting bad PR (look at how it went with the much vaunted Abrams, once heralded as a "gamechanger"), but also because they can't risk the Ukrainians have a chance to maybe capture their latest tech. That's also why the US and EU send F-16's, and not F-35's...

It's all perfectly sensible, there is no big secret here. Both sides do not send their latest tech. Especially not, if the numbers of those wouldn't be enough to change the tides anyhow.

That said, I do think that once something gets serial produced and can influence the war, like the SU-57, it probably will get used. But even then only from the conquered territory; they won't be flying over Ukraine territory - for the same reason I already gave.