The Ukrainian army is preparing to attack the second line of defense of the Russian army in the Zaporozhye region. As the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) notes in its daily bulletin, Russian fortifications here may be weaker than on the front line.
Experts point out that they have not yet discovered new formations or units of Russian troops stationed near the village Worked in the western part of the Zaporozhye region, except for the transfer of units of the 7th Guards Airborne Division and the Akhmat-Yug battalion in August. Units of the 503rd Motorized Rifle Regiment (19th Motorized Rifle Division, 58th Combined Arms Army, Southern Military District), which, according to Russian sources, had previously fought with Ukrainian forces 12 km northwest of Rabotino to strengthen defenses, were transferred here.
Russian forces stationed in the western part of the Zaporozhye region have been defending themselves here since the start of the Ukrainian counter-offensive. ISW has no information that there are other combat units at this location that have not previously participated in combat.
The likely lack of operational reserves could mean that the second line of defense would be significantly weaker, the researchers suggest. They emphasize that there may still be military units here that no one knew about before.
The day before, Ukrainian troops reached the central part of the village of Rabotino south of the town of Orekhov and broke through part of the Russian defense facilities south of Mala Tokmachka.
Earlier, ISW indicated that if Ukrainian troops completely capture this village and go beyond it to the south, it may mean that they have overcome the belt of the densest minefields and fortifications of the first line of defense.
Exhibition of destroyed Russian tanks in the center of Kiev
Ukraine lined a central boulevard in the capital Kiev with burnt-out Russian tanks and combat vehicles as Ukrainians this week prepared to mark their second wartime Independence Day, Reuters reported.
The national holiday, which tomorrow marks 32 years of post-Soviet independence from Moscow, falls exactly 18 months after Russia began its full-scale invasion of its southern neighbor.
People walked along Kreshchatyk Boulevard in the center of the capital and stared at the charred hulls of armored fighting vehicles and other pieces of equipment lined up in a long line like a military parade of the dead.
Natalya Koval, a 59-year-old resident of Kyiv, expressed her horror at what the battlefield trophies represented, but expressed confidence that Ukraine would eventually defeat Russia.
“Our country will celebrate”she said.
“Yes, maybe not yet, but the moment will come, and this victory will be not only ours, but a victory for the whole world.” Koval added.
The independence day, which will be overshadowed by the war, comes at a critical time for Kiev, with its counter-offensive against Russian occupation forces slowly advancing in the east and south of the country, away from Kiev, although larger areas have not yet been retaken. settlements.
Ukrainian officials say their military’s progress has been hampered by Russian minefields and well-prepared defense lines, as well as Ukraine’s lack of adequate air support.
They say the number of Ukrainian dead is a state secret, but U.S. officials quoted by The New York Times last week put the number of military deaths in the war at nearly 70,000, with between 100,000 and 120,000 people were injured.
Residents in central Kiev said they liked seeing the wrecked Russian equipment on display and hoped it would boost Ukrainian morale.
“I think it’s a good idea to show what our army is capable of and show how bad (the Russians – ed.) are in combat,” said 23-year-old Mark Omelchenko.
“It is important to see such examples of our victories,” he stated.
Mykola Kaplun, a 74-year-old resident of the central city of Vinnytsia, who came to visit his granddaughter, said he was grateful for Western support in the war, which he admitted sometimes felt had dragged on too long.
“But the feeling that victory will surely come has not changed.” he said.
“And my intuition tells me that all this will end by the end of the year with our victory”Kaplun added.
According to BTA.
2023-08-23 14:25:55
#Ukrainian #forces #preparing #attack #line #Russian #defense #Zaporozhye #Mediapool.bg
