Russia had a golden opportunity to open a new front in Ukraine but is squandering it, military experts say

• Russia opened up a new front in the northern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv last month.
• At the time, things were bleak for Ukraine. Even so, Russia's attack appears to have stalled.
• The attack, while not over, produced a major strategic misfire, experts told Business Insider.

Russia is fumbling a golden opportunity in Ukraine as its latest offensive stalls, experts told Business Insider.

A month ago, an estimated 30,000 Russian troops began pouring over Ukraine's northern border into the Kharkiv region, opening up a new front for Ukraine's already-stretched defenses.