Ukrainian troops on southern front 'expected less resistance' from Russia, tank commander says

• Ukrainian troops underestimated Russia's response to their counteroffensive, CNN reported.
• Troops fighting on the southern front told the outlet they "expected less resistance."

Ukrainian troops fighting on the southern front "expected less resistance" from Russia, a tank unit commander told CNN.

In an interview with the outlet, the commander — known only by his call name "Lotos" — said that Russia had months to prepare for Ukraine's counteroffensive, which had made it more difficult to advance.

"It won't be as easy as in Kharkiv," Lotos told CNN, in reference to Ukraine's swift and successful counteroffensive conducted in September last year.

"Here the enemy was ready, unfortunately. Everybody chatted for months that we would move here," he added. "We expected less resistance. They are holding. They have leadership. It is not often you say that about the enemy."

Ukraine is several weeks into its much-anticipated counteroffensive, which is aimed at regaining territory in the eastern and southern regions of the country.

But its military has only made small territorial gains, largely because Russia's troops have built layers of sophisticated defenses designed to inflict as much pain on Ukraine's troops as possible.

These defenses include a 600-mile front line equipped with minefields, trenches, and rows of "dragon's teeth" — spiky pyramids of concrete that can block or damage tanks and other armored vehicles.

Russia's heavy fortifications have forced Ukrainian forces to leave behind some of their advanced Western tanks and manually clear the mines instead, often using small teams of soldiers who need to crawl on the ground.

Many of the Western-trained Ukrainian troops have also started to abandon US tactics because they have proved ineffective, The New York Times reported earlier this month.

The slow-moving counteroffensive has prompted some criticisms from the West, which has been supplying Ukraine with weapons, training, and armored vehicles.

But a Ukrainian tank operator from the 15th National Guard told CNN that Western criticism is "wrong."

"We have success," the tank operator, identified only as Vitaly, told CNN. "Sometimes more, sometimes less. It depends on how fortified they are."

"The biggest problem is underestimation of the enemy," he added.