Diksia.com - The war between Ukraine and Russia is entering a phase of fiercer fighting than before.
On Thursday (27/07/2023), several foreign media reports said that Ukrainian troops had reportedly launched their counterattack through the southern area of the city of Zaporizhia in Ukraine, previously occupied by Russia.
Russian sources said Kiev deployed three battalions, reinforced with tanks and armored vehicles, to mount a “massive” attack on Moscow’s first main line of defense near the village of Robotyne.
The Russian-held village is southeast of Orikhiv, 60 miles south of the objective of Ukrainian troops advancing towards the Sea of Azov.
With their movements, Ukrainian troops aim to break the line of coordination between Russian troops in the south and east of the country.
As the Telegraph reported, the US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War said Ukraine’s latest maneuvers managed to breach Russian defenses that had been prepared earlier south of Orichiv.
Vladimir Rogov, head of Moscow-backed local government in the Zaporizhia region, said the offensive involved foreign-trained Ukrainian troops armed with about 100 Leopard 2 tanks and Bradley combat vehicles.
Rogov said Kiev troops launched a “high-intensity” attack on Zaporizhia in south-eastern Ukraine.
The massive attack was carried out by sending waves of armored vehicles into the Russian positions.
Vladimir Rogov said the Ukrainians partially broke through the Russian defenses but were eventually pushed back.
“At least 100 units of armored vehicles were thrown into the enemy’s attack on the Orikhiv sector of the Zaporizhzhia front,” Rogov said on the Telegram news app, quoted by Telegraph.co.uk.
“As a result of several waves of attacks on the Robotyne settlement area … the enemy managed to break through in three sections of our first line of defense,” he said.
“The fighters of this brigade have been trained abroad and … are mainly equipped with Western military equipment, including Leopard tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.”
About a third of the armored vehicles are said to have been destroyed by Russian artillery.
Ukrainian Defense Minister: Russia is desperate
Hailing a “successful offensive” near Bakhmut Kiev, the Ukrainians said their troops were “gradually” advancing towards Russian strongholds in the south and east of the country.
As the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian armed forces continued, a success was announced.
Hanna Maliar, Ukraine’s defense minister, said the Ukrainian military carried out counterattacks around the town of Bakhmut.
“Our forces continue to conduct successful offensive operations on the southern flank around the town of Bakhmut.”
“The enemy clung to every meter of occupied land, put up strong resistance, used reserves, and at the same time suffered significant casualties,” said Hanna Maliar.
This claim is consistent with a report last Wednesday by a pro-Russian blogger that said Ukraine had advanced around the village of Klishchiivka.
Try to counterattack and try to cut off the road to Bakhmut.
Maliar added: “The Ukrainian Defense Forces are continuing offensive operations towards Melitopol and Berdyansk and are gradually advancing.”
“The fighting in the Staromayorsky area continues, our fighters are making progress and are able to gain a foothold on the fortified lines,” he claimed.
