Spring brings muddy terrain in Ukraine that favors defenders - UK intel

Rising temperatures in Ukraine are creating muddy terrain that will limit movement and favor defenders, the UK Defense Ministry said in a Thursday morning intelligence update.

Soil in contested areas such as  Bakhmut is freezing at night and thawing in the day, leading to the conditions. The mud will be at its worst by late March, said the ministry.

"This will add further friction to ground operations and hamper the off-road movement of heavier armored vehicles, especially over churned-up ground in the Bakhmut sector," said the UK Defense Ministry.

Ukrainian leaders celebrated the coming of spring as a victory over Russian missile, drone and artillery strikes exacerbating the harsh winter by targeting electrical infrastructure and other utilities.

"On March 1, 2023, Putin suffered another major defeat," said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. "Despite the cold, darkness, and missile strikes, Ukraine persevered and defeated his winter terror."

"They wanted to freeze us and throw us into darkness. We survived!" said Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov.

"Today is the first day of spring."

Preparing for next winter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Wednesday address that while the threat to the electrical grid remained, work was continuing to improve the situation. The government was already preparing for next winter, he said.

"This winter is over," said Zelensky. "It was very difficult, and every Ukrainian without exaggeration felt this difficulty. But we still managed to provide Ukraine with energy and heat."

During winter, western intelligence reports persisted of a spring and summer Russian offensive. This may not materialize until the muddy terrain has dried.