The Campaign Ends at the Breach: Lessons from Ukraine on Why Armies Fail

The ability to breach prepared defenses can determine the outcome of a land campaign before factors like logistics or reserves come into play. Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive stalled because its forces could not open a lane through Russian obstacle belts, preventing the larger operational plan from unfolding. This principle is reinforced by historical examples, including Russia's failed Siverskyi Donets river crossing and Allied delays in Operation Market Garden. Military planners should therefore treat breaching and crossing capabilities as critical, explicit variables in campaign design rather than assumed tasks.