But Russian troops have been fighting fiercely trenches behind extensive obstacles and minefields. Ukrainian troops have managed to penetrate the first of three Russian fortified belts in southern Ukraine, but for now, the Russian military hasn't cracked. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu exits a trench as he inspects troops in Ukraine in a photo released in December 2022. Russian troops are dug into elaborate trench systems shielded by millions of mines and supported by artillery and attack helicopters. Ukrainian troops work on a US-made Bradley armored vehicle at a secret workshop in the Zaporizhzhia region in July.

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Persons: Sergei Shoigu, George Patton —, Bradley, Ed Ram, France —, Alexey Malgavko, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Kyiv, Russian, Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, Royal United Services Institute, Washington, Getty, Sedan, REUTERS, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Nazi Germany, British, France, economize, Zaporizhzhia, American, Russia, Omsk, Forbes