Fall rains have turned the earth to sludge, slowing advances at least until the winter freeze, in conditions that have hampered military movement for centuries.
The next six weeks, before fall mud spreads, could allow Ukraine’s military to press forward in the Donbas and potentially retake Kherson, American officials said. But Russia may not be deterred.
Russian state television trumpeted the news, while playing down or ignoring the fact that Moscow’s forces are in retreat in multiple parts of the front line.