When Defense Becomes Destruction: Austria-Hungary’s Mistake and Ukraine’s Risk

A rigid, static defense can be catastrophic, a lesson drawn from Austria-Hungary's experience at the Siege of Przemyśl in World War I. While an initial defense bought valuable time, a second, prolonged siege destroyed its army, a mistake later repeated by Hitler's "fortress policy" that doomed Army Group Center. This historical analysis suggests that Ukraine's current "no step back" posture, particularly in places like Pokrovsk, risks similar disastrous outcomes by prioritizing political symbolism over military preservation. The argument is that a flexible defense allowing for tactical withdrawals is crucial to preserve forces, as holding terrain for purely political reasons can lead to unsustainable attrition and strategic defeat.