After months of intense combat, Ukrainian forces are making significant advances along two major lines of attack, according to analysts, Ukrainian officials, and Russian military bloggers.
While Ukraine has not advanced more than 10 to 12 miles on either front, these gains are important as they are forcing Moscow to redirect forces from other parts of the front line. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, has called these advances “tactically significant,” stating that Moscow’s redeployment is likely to weaken Russian defensive lines overall, creating opportunities for a potential Ukrainian breakthrough.
The Ukrainian military launched a counteroffensive this summer with hopes of replicating their success in the Kharkiv region in September. However, heavy losses led to a change in strategy, focusing on steady progress and resource conservation to degrade Russian forces.
In addition to ground battles, Ukraine continues its campaign to sever Russian supply lines, using missiles and drones to target sites far from the front lines.
Explosions were reported on Saturday as the Russian military claimed to have shot down two Ukrainian missiles targeting the Kerch Strait Bridge, a crucial link to the occupied Crimean Peninsula. Ukrainian forces have vowed to keep attacking the bridge until it is unusable.
Video footage shown on Russian and Ukrainian state news media depicted smoke billowing over the bridge, although the Russians stated that it was a smoke screen intended to protect the structure. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the bridge was not damaged, but these accounts could not be independently verified.
On the ground, Ukrainian forces are advancing south along two main lines of attack: one towards the Russian-occupied city of Berdiansk through the eastern village of Staromaiorske, and another towards the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol, a vital transportation hub near the coast.
Since the start of the counteroffensive in early June, Ukrainian forces have progressed approximately 10 to 12 miles along both lines. The goal is to reach the Sea of Azov and disrupt the land bridge between Russia and Crimea, which is crucial for Russian military supply routes to the west.
Military analysts caution that Ukrainian forces still face a challenging battle against well-fortified Russian defenses. Factors such as…
2023-08-13 09:11:58
Post from www.nytimes.com
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