By V.E.K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Wave Tactics and Heavy Casualties Define the Latest Phase of the Conflict
On the frontlines, Ukrainian soldiers use a stark term to describe the Russian tactics they face daily. They call them "meat assaults", relentless waves of Russian soldiers attacking their defensive positions, sometimes nearly a dozen times in a single day.
Lt. Col. Anton Bayev of Ukraine’s National Guard Khartia Brigade reports that wave after wave can arrive within hours at frontline positions north of Kharkiv. “The Russians use these units to locate our firing equipment and to exhaust our forces constantly,” he said. “Our soldiers must fend off four or five waves of the enemy each day, which is extremely taxing both physically and psychologically.”
This brutal tactic has led to staggering Russian casualties since Moscow launched its latest offensive two months ago. According to Western officials, around 1,200 Russian soldiers were killed or wounded daily in May and June, the highest rate since the war began. Drones often spot the attackers quickly, and Russian casualties are left on the battlefield, Lt. Col. Bayev notes. “Their main task is simply meat assaults and our total exhaustion.”
The tactic underscores Russia's attempt to leverage its key advantage numbers. In Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, Captain Ivan Sekach from Ukraine’s 110th Brigade likens the scenario to a conveyor belt bringing Russians to be killed, albeit slowly pushing forward. Russia, with its significantly larger population, employs former prisoners and recruits through substantial one off payments, sometimes thousands of dollars.
There have been complaints from the Russian side about "crippled regiments," where wounded soldiers are forced back into combat. One video shows dozens of men, some on crutches, appealing for hospital treatment but being sent back to fight. Western officials say this allows Moscow to continue sending poorly trained soldiers to the front lines at the same rate they are being killed or wounded.
Ukraine, limited by manpower and with a different attitude towards casualties, could not match Russian tactics even if it had the numbers. A senior general was recently removed following complaints of using Soviet era tactics throwing soldiers at the front lines. “We’ve lost many of our soldiers because of this Soviet type mindset and strategy,” says Ivan Stupak, a former Security Service officer. “We are limited with manpower and must prioritize our people.”
While Russian advances have been stopped around Kharkiv, their attritional approach in the east is yielding slow but steady gains. “Unfortunately, there are a lot of Russians,” says Stupak. “They are trying to conduct this rolling operation centimeter by centimeter, inch by inch, 100 meters per day, 200 meters per day. Unfortunately, it's successful for them.”
Kyiv expresses frustration over the pace of Western support. One senior official complains that the assistance received ensures they do not lose but is insufficient to guarantee a win. Delays in US military aid have strained defenses, costing territory and lives. “We receive aid incrementally,” says Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of Ukraine’s parliamentary foreign affairs committee. “Our Western allies provide weaponry bit by bit, seemingly afraid of escalation.”
The lifting of restrictions on using US weapons over the border into Russia has helped stall Moscow’s assault on Kharkiv. “If we have to fight with our hands tied behind our back, we will only bleed to death,” Merezhko notes. “It's crucial to be allowed to use long range missiles in Russia, and we already see results.” However, a Ukrainian official said that while longer range strikes into Russia have been beneficial, they have not fundamentally changed the war's dynamic.
“We are heading towards a stalemate,” says Stupak, acknowledging that this may eventually lead to the “bitter pill” of some form of negotiation. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's suggestion of a ceasefire to hasten negotiations is met with caution in Kyiv. “We are not ready to compromise on crucial values,” Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukraine’s President Zelensky, told reporters in Washington.
Ukrainians fear that without solid security guarantees, such as NATO membership, Russia might regroup and launch future attacks. Vladimir Putin is banking on wearing down Ukraine on the battlefield and outlasting the West’s resolve to provide support. Alongside guided aerial bombings on Kharkiv’s frontline positions and civilians, Moscow has targeted energy infrastructure nationwide, causing frequent power blackouts and raising concerns about winter.
November’s US election adds another layer of uncertainty, with questions about whether the European Union could realistically fill any gaps. For Lt. Col. Anton Bayev near Kharkiv, while the ability to strike into Russia has been crucial, he now sees the enemy adapting its tactics not just with “meat assaults.” His losses are now due to mortars and glide bombs, while Ukrainian forces remain short of ammunition.
“We need everything, and there is always a lack,” he says. “The soldiers are holding on. We are all hanging on. It's tough, but everyone knows the cost and why it’s necessary.”
