operational encirclement

noun

a situation of (partial) encirclement where the besieged forces are not yet in imminent danger of destruction or capture, but are unable to organize adequate defence for a longer period of time, especially in such a way that there remains a connection to the rear, which the enemy however can cover with precise artillery fire, severely hampering supply.

OriginRussian оперативное окружение →
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Meanings

nounoperational encirclement (countable and uncountable, plural operational encirclements)

plural operational encirclements

  1. countableuncountablegovernmenta situation of (partial) encirclement where the besieged forces are not yet in imminent danger of destruction or capture, but are unable to organize adequate defence for a longer period of time, especially in such a way that there remains a connection to the rear, which the enemy however can cover with precise artillery fire, severely hampering supply.

Origin

  1. Russianоперативное окружение
  2. Englishoperational encirclement

Chiefly a calque of Russian оперативное окружение (operativnoje okruženije). In frequent use since the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian war, but already before most usage seems to have been in reference to Russia and the Soviet Union.

More words from Russian

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

operational encirclement. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/operational%20encirclement

MLA

“operational encirclement.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/operational%20encirclement. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “operational encirclement,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/operational%20encirclement.

Source: operational encirclement on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.