Samenvatting

Following the initial failure of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24,
2022, fighting along the front has largely degenerated into a grinding war of attrition,
characterized by positional – often urban – warfare, remotely conducted (precision) strikes
and meeting engagements between relatively small-scale manoeuvre elements. While this
article is being written the Ukrainian summer offensive has only been steadily progressing.
Nonetheless, approximately one year before, on September 6, 2022, Ukrainian forces
unleashed a daring counter-offensive around Kharkiv that quickly developed into a stunning
success. As the only such one in the war thus far, it represented a feat of arms that, according
to some, was reminiscent of the German blitzkrieg years.1 In a mere six days Ukrainian forces
re-conquered a territory of around 6,000 square kilometres and advanced up to 70 kilometres
deep into Russian-held territory, threatening Russian forces with encirclement, forcing them
into a headlong retreat and capturing a vast amount of Russian military equipment.