Vladimir Putin at the second summit of the Economic and Humanitarian Forum 'Russia-Africa' in St. Petersburg on Thursday said that «all attempts at a counteroffensive were repulsed.» Photo: Valeriy Sharifulin/Shutterstock
Ukrainian brigades armed with the West broke through Russian defenses in the country's southeast on Thursday in what is said to be the «main blow» of a long-anticipated counter-offensive.
American-made Bradley combat vehicles and German-made Leopard tanks participated in a mechanized assault towards the Russian-occupied village of Robotino in the Zaporizhia region.
According to the American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian forces probably «succeeded break through and break through tactically difficult defensive positions.
The offensive comes after more than two months of hard, slow progress since Kiev launched a counteroffensive in hopes of reaching the Sea of Azov to cut Moscow's land bridge to occupied Crimea.
Pentagon officials told the New York Times that Ukrainian forces succeeded in securing a passage through heavy minefields in Zaporozhye and launched an attack across the canal.
In response to the attack, described by the Russian Defense Ministry as «massive», Moscow forces fired a series of air and artillery salvos in the hope of pushing back the advancing Ukrainian troops.
Ukrainian counteroffensive
Vladimir Putin confirmed that the counter-offensive had «significantly intensified» and claimed that Russia had destroyed 26 tanks.
But Ukraine's 47th Mechanized Brigade, which was trained and equipped by NATO allies, including Britain, on Thursday reached the outskirts of Robotine as the fighting for positions in the trenches intensified. A T-72 tank and two Bradley vehicles, probably belonging to the brigade, are abandoned behind the front lines of defense directly in front of the village.
An unconfirmed video allegedly filmed outside the village shows another Bradley stuck in an anti-tank trench.
The Moscow-appointed head of occupied Zaporozhye, Vladimir Rogov, admitted that Ukraine managed to break through Russian defenses «as a result of several waves of attack from participation of more than 100 armored vehicles. Other Russian sources call the number of heavy armored vehicles lower, around 40.
According to analysts, the assault troops are about 3 km from the next major test, which will take the city of Robotine itself.< /p>
The assault is part of a wider offensive from the south from the Ukrainian-held city of Orekhov, about six miles away, which US officials have identified as the main focus of Kyiv's counteroffensive.
Area One. of the three main offensive directions of the offensive, which also include the offensive to the south of the Donetsk region and Bakhmut.
Arms of Ukraine — Bradley
Ukraine is believed to have invested significant resources in recent days in this effort, including thousands of better trained and equipped troops who have been on standby since the offensive began last month.
U.S. official. Kiev told CNN that Kiev had deployed «the bulk» of its forces to a counteroffensive, which had long been considered the starting weapon for a key battle in the offensive.
Ukrainian officials have told colleagues in Washington they will use reinforced battalions in an attempt to advance on south through the Russian defenses in the city of Tokmok.
Another U.S. official told The Washington Post that fresh troops are not necessarily a sign of the start of a «big offensive» and that they may simply be replacing their counterparts.
ISW warned that the Ukrainian offensive is visible. the «beginning», not the «sum» of the attempt to advance south.
According to the American think tank, the defense lines behind Robotin are less manned than those around the village.< /p>
However, in order to reach the sea and cut off Russia's land supply route to Crimea, it will be necessary to overcome another 200 km of heavily mined Russian defenses.
“Second wave of counter-offensive has begun, Mr. Rogov,” a Russian official wrote in a messenger Telegram.
“The soldiers of these brigades were trained abroad, and the brigades themselves are equipped with Western military equipment, including Leopard and Bradley tanks.”
Representative of the 47th brigade, the only unit that operates American-made infantry fighting vehicles, confirmed its participation in the assault.
His troops took up position on the northern tip of Robotin, creating a defensive line to prevent Russia from regaining the lost territories.
“We have not yet entered the settlement. Fighting continues in trench positions ahead,” a spokesman said.
“Artillery covers our infantry, Bradley crews destroy enemy infantry and equipment, and aerial reconnaissance aircraft provide a picture so that commanders can control battle».
The 47th Brigade began life as an all-volunteer battalion in Kharkiv before being converted into a brigade before the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Its troops were trained in the UK, Poland and Germany and equipped with a unique combination of Bradley and Slovenian vehicles. M-55 tanks, Soviet armor upgraded with NATO-standard cannons.
The latest Ukrainian strike came after Major General Ivan Popov, commander of Russian troops in Zaporozhye, was fired for criticizing the failures of the Moscow military leadership.
Western officials believe that Kiev was able to capitalize on the chaos and discontent of Russian troops in the region after the dismissal of their commander.
Kiev has not yet confirmed the attack on Robotine, but said that its forces «continue to conduct offensive operations on Melitopol and Berdyansk directions,” the General Staff said in a statement.
Anna Malyar, Ukraine's deputy defense minister, said her forces are «gradually advancing» towards two coastal towns more than 60 miles south of the current front line.
Without going into detail, Volodymyr Zelensky , Ukraine's representative president, used his late-night address on Wednesday to discuss the developments. He said: «Today our guys at the front showed very good results.»
On Thursday, he was filmed with his top generals in the Dnieper, giving General Valery Zaluzhny, commander of the armed forces, a pistol with an inscription on his birthday .
Speaking at a meeting with African leaders in St. Petersburg on Thursday, Putin said: “All attempts at a counteroffensive were repulsed, the enemy suffered heavy losses and was driven back.”
It was separately reported that Ukraine, after several days of fighting, liberated the city of Staromayorskoye in the Donetsk region.
Alexander Khodakovsky, commander of the pro-Russian Vostok Battalion, said: “The loss of a settlement after a stubborn and undoubtedly heroic defense is a blow to our military pride.”
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