How Foliage Helped Russia Break Through Ukrainian Lines

In eastern Ukraine, Russian advances this year have surged primarily through infantry infiltration rather than traditional armored offensives, taking advantage of dense summer foliage for cover. With over 550 square kilometers captured in June alone, particularly around Kurakhove and Pokrovsk, Russia’s 8th Combined Arms Army presses forward despite suffering heavy casualties. Ukraine’s shortage of infantry and diminished reconnaissance capabilities, hindered by thick vegetation blocking drone and thermal surveillance, have left gaps that Russian assault teams exploit to infiltrate and encircle frontline positions. Russian tactics increasingly include coordinated rear attacks on Ukrainian drone operators, disrupting vital observation and artillery support. However, these infantry assaults rely heavily on coordination, and piecemeal Russian attacks often allow Ukrainian defenders to repel them individually. Overall, Russia’s advances underscore a shift in the battlefield dynamic, where infantry infiltration and environmental factors play a decisive role amid high casualties on both sides.