US Options Narrow as Ukrainian Lines Continue Crumbling

Update on the conflict in Ukraine for November 17, 2024;

• Ukraine continues losing territory at an increasing rate, with the salient west of Donetsk City continuing to expand including the city of Kurakhove, as well as advances into the urban areas of Toretsk near New York, Chasiv Yar west of Bakhmut, and Kupiansk in eastern Kharkov;

• While the West insists Russia is running out of time to press its advantages, all evidence suggests conditions in Ukraine will continue shifting in Russia’s favor until the West either intervenes or comes to terms with Moscow;

• The incoming Trump adminstration claims it will “end” the conflict in Ukraine, but is in actuality is more face-saving than a policy shift all while pivoting to other US wars, proxy wars, and confrontations around the globe;

• Covert UK military operations revealed in leaked documents present a possible model the US will use to continue “extending Russia” in Ukraine even after it “withdraws;”

References:

CNN – Bad news mounts for Ukraine across the frontlines. But Russia is under pressure too (November 16, 2024):
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/16/eu…

UK Ministry of Defense – Update on September 17, 2024:
https://x.com/DefenceHQ/status/183596…

Mediazona – Russian Losses in the war with Ukraine (Updated November 7, 2024):
https://en.zona.media/article/2022/05…

ISW – Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, November 16, 2024:
https://www.understandingwar.org/back…

Grayzone – Leaks expose secret British military cell plotting to ‘keep Ukraine fighting’ (by Kit Klarenberg, Nov. 16, 2024):
https://thegrayzone.com/2024/11/16/uk…

RAND Corporation – Extending Russia, Competing from Advantageous Ground (2019):
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_re…