Mud could complicate possible Russian plans for an invasion of Ukraine, US officials say
- A Russian invasion of Ukraine could be complicated by a mild winter and mud, US officials said
- Experts say mud is a challenge but not necessarily an insurmountable obstacle for the Russian military
A mild winter and muddy ground could complicate possible Russian plans to launch an invasion of Ukraine, potentially delaying plans for military action, senior Biden administration officials told The New York Times.
Ukraine tends to experience a hard winter freeze by January at the latest, but this year, the ground has yet to freeze in various parts of the country due to mild winter weather.
Frozen ground, which is neither ice nor mud, allows troops, as well as heavy military vehicles and equipment, to manoeuvre more easily. Mud, however, can cause heavy wheeled vehicles to loose traction, and even tracked vehicles like tanks can be affected if the mud goes deep enough.
They added that he would likely need to act before the spring thaw in March, when the Russian military could face another muddy situation.
The Biden administration reportedly has meteorologists monitoring the weather in Ukraine and assessing whether they are suitable for a major military offensive against Ukraine.