Ukraine Triggers a Russian Redeployment

Time to start phase 2

Shankar Narayan
7 min readSep 4

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Soldiers walking (Licensed Image)

Anticipation is steadily growing, and it seems to have intensified following the White House’s announcement of Ukraine’s notable progress in its counteroffensive. Ukraine’s official statements have not attempted to downplay these rising expectations, contributing to a rapid flow of information moving in a positive direction.

The tone of major publications has noticeably shifted, not entirely towards optimism but more in a cautious ‘let’s hope for the best’ manner.

These publications had no choice but to adapt, given that Ukraine’s actions have compelled Russia to make substantial adjustments. There are ongoing shifts in Russian force composition and positioning, and we will witness their effects in the coming weeks.

On September 1, 2023 the Institute of Study of War reported that Russia had initiated a “lateral redeployment” of its military forces. This term denotes the relocation of Russian forces from one operational area to another. Before delving into the specifics of this redeployment within occupied territory, it’s essential to first explore the process of weakening the enemy forces, as this is the driving factor behind the lateral redeployment.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine stands out as an unprecedented event in many aspects. This war defies easy comparison with historical conflicts and is likely to maintain its unique status for a considerable period ahead.

The Battle of Issus in 333 BCE marked a pivotal moment in Alexander’s campaign against Persia. It brought about significant changes for Alexander, his men, and his nation. During this battle, Persian King Darius commanded an estimated force of 100,000 to 120,000 soldiers, while Alexander led approximately 40,000 troops.

Image Source: US Department of Defense

Alexander’s achievement lay in his tactical prowess. Factors such as skill, morale, decisiveness, and courage played pivotal roles in enabling his much smaller army to triumph against an enemy over twice its size. Both sides fully committed their resources to this intense battle on a confined battlefield.

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Shankar Narayan

Lov stats and hate status-quo. Forecasted all the states Biden won in 2020. Correctly forecasted the twin Georgia elections in 2021, House and Senate in 2022.