Winter freezes Russian advance in Kharkiv frontline struggles
The Unian Agency highlights the weather currently dominating in Ukraine. In the Kharkiv region, notably, snow has fallen for the first time this winter, and temperatures remain well below zero. Military officials explain how these conditions will impact front-line operations, particularly affecting Russian movements.
– It will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the enemy's operations, as they are attempting to advance while we are on the defensive. Naturally, such weather conditions are crucial because the enemy is freezing, attempting to manoeuvre in the snow, which makes them highly visible. The enemy is suffering, as they should – said Yevhen Romanov, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military group in Kharkiv.
Winter is a major adversary for the Russians
The Russians face a more challenging situation not just because they are the attacking side. A persistent issue, as demonstrated by the previous two winters, is their equipment. While Moscow strives to provide additional heavy equipment from its stockpile, it consistently neglects soldiers' attire. As observed in November, when temperatures started to fall, Russian soldiers requested warm clothing due to the cold.
Yevhen Romanov added that favourable weather (clear skies, no precipitation) leads to a noticeable increase in artillery strikes and the use of drones, which is considerably more challenging during periods of cloudiness and fog, particularly snowstorms.
– Last week in the Kharkiv region, there was abundant sunshine, so the weather was favourable for the artillerymen. Both our artillerymen and the enemy's artillerymen and drones benefited – said Romanov.
Winter at the front: What does this mean exactly?
"General Frost" does not favour Russia, and the coldest season benefits the Ukrainians more.
This advantage is due to the superior equipment of Ukrainian soldiers, who receive considerably more warm clothing and winter gear from NATO countries compared to what Russian soldiers receive from their authorities. Warm gloves and socks protect extremities from frostbite, whereas the Russians have often had to improvise with makeshift footcloths.
Severe frost also causes military equipment to underperform in harsh conditions and can sometimes lead to complete failure. For instance, weapon components can freeze, and lubricants in heavy machinery lose their effectiveness. Frost also impacts the drones extensively used in the war in Ukraine, as battery life significantly diminishes in low temperatures.
