The ground offensive should have been started sooner, and on a larger scale.
However, the most assured way to keep a war like this short is to mount a large early ground offensive.
Russian officials have even left open the option of a limited ground offensive.
Ten hours into this ground offensive, more than 5,500 prisoners have been captured.
But he made it clear that they were to assess the course of the war and review the options for a ground offensive.
The ground offensive they finally ordered came too late to make a real difference.
Investors fear that a ground offensive may not be brief.
A very large ground offensive is beginning, and there's a sense of excitement in this building that I haven't felt for a long time.
Some military experts have said a ground offensive could come as early as the middle of this month.
On 31 July, low cloud returned and stopped the air operation in support of the ground offensive.