Ukraine ‘arm-wrestles’ Russia in final effort to break forces before winter

The ground war in Ukraine is more dynamic and unpredictable now than at any other time in the past 18 months. When Ukrainian troops crossed the border into the Kursk region more than three weeks ago in a dramatic counterattacking gambit, Russia responded, seizing the opportunity to stretch Ukrainian forces further by redoubling their efforts to take Pokrovsk and Chasiv Yar in the Donbas region 300 miles further south. As winter approaches, both sides are furiously arm-wrestling for advantage before November, when the cold and wet will slow down military movement and lower the tempo of any offensive ground operations until spring next year.