KYIV: On Friday, Russia reported intense fighting along the front in southern Ukraine, where bloggers revealed the first glimpses of US and German armour, indicating that the long-awaited offensive by Ukraine had begun.
According to Reuters, it was impossible to determine whether Ukraine was breaching Russian defences in its attempt to drive out occupying forces because there was almost no independent reporting from the front lines and Kyiv was keeping quiet.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, declared at Sochi that “we can say with certainty that this offensive has begun.” “Ukrainian forces failed to accomplish their objectives in any sector.”
In the end, it’s anticipated that the counteroffensive would involve thousands of Western-trained and -equipped Ukrainian soldiers. Russia claims that from the beginning of the week, it has successfully repulsed attacks. Russia had months to construct its defence lines. According to Kyiv, the primary effort has not yet started.
Intense fighting was reported on Friday on the Zaporizhzhia front in the city of Orikhiv, near the centre of the “land bridge” connecting Russia to the Crimea peninsula, one of Ukraine’s most likely targets, according to Moscow and pro-war Russian blogs.
In the end, it’s anticipated that the counteroffensive would involve thousands of Western-trained and -equipped Ukrainian soldiers. Russia claims that from the beginning of the week, it has successfully repulsed attacks. Russia had months to construct its defence lines. According to Kyiv, the primary effort has not yet started.
Intense fighting was reported on Friday on the Zaporizhzhia front in the city of Orikhiv, near the centre of the “land bridge” connecting Russia to the Crimea peninsula, one of Ukraine’s most likely targets, according to Moscow and pro-war Russian blogs.
Barry said that Ukraine’s first objective would be to try to keep the Russians off balance and obtain tactical surprise through deception and camouflage. “They’ve got a choice of how many they commit initially and how many they keep in reserve in case the battlefield dynamics change,” Barry added.
“The armed forces of Ukraine continued attempts to conduct offensive operations in the southern Donetsk and Zaporozhzhia directions,” the Russian defence ministry stated.
Two Ukrainian assaults, it claimed, had been stopped by its troops south of Orikhiv, and four had been rejected farther east, close to Velyka Novosilka, where it claimed two battalions of Ukrainian soldiers, backed by tanks, had been engaged in the offensive. A brigade consists of many battalions, each with up to 1,000 soldiers.
Kyiv has said almost nothing about the southern front, where it is widely expected to attempt its main push towards the coast. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said only that battles were continuing for Velyka Novosilka and Russian troops were mounting “active defence” at Orikhiv.
In the east, Ukraine has reported gains of territory around Bakhmut, which Russian forces captured last month after nearly a year of the deadliest ground combat in Europe since World War Two. Ukraine generally bars journalists from reaching its side of front lines during offensive operations.
