Russia’s Pointless Attacks In Bakhmut Are Running Into A Wall Of Ukrainian Artillery

When Ukrainian brigades launched twin counteroffensives in eastern and southern Ukraine back in late August and early September, most Russian regiments either had no choice but to retreat, or wisely chose to retreat in order to preserve their surviving forces.

There were weird exceptions. For reasons that defy military logic, Russian troops in a few eastern sectors not only stayed in place—they attacked.

These isolated Russian assaults—call them “countercounterattacks”—so far have not resulted in meaningful territorial gains for the Russians. They have however resulted in heavy casualties. Especially for the Russian side. “The Ukrainians are fighting a very, very successful mobile defense,” U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Wednesday.

Just one corps of the Ukrainian army is doing most of the killing. The…