This is one thing the Russians got right. They actually used something like a tunnel boring machine to make large circular 'trenches'. The are almost impossible to cross with armored vehicles - and expose the underbelly of the vehicle when an attempt is make. Ukraine couldn't afford to just shell some of these key crossings to prevent RuAF engineers from building them. Now, UAF engineers would need to get out their to fill them in or build temporary bridging structures. Unfortunately, Russian artillery is just waiting for the UAF to try. NATO is learning some tough lessons here, and Ukrainians are paying the price. That said, without our help, Russia would be grabbing more and more territory - the war could even have concluded by now.Delays in supplying munitions and equipment to Ukraine allowed Russia to extensively mine and fortify their lines as well which really is the chief problem now.
The part plan, part happenstance of slow walking our involvement is clearly coming up short. From the US perspective - the re-engagement of NATO as a cohesive block required this approach. We need a new, more aggressive approach, otherwise, as you point out, we are playing into Putin's plan of winning by virtue of demography. I hope the smart folks in National Security and the Military are working around the clock on a better approach.


