The opening phase of the Ukrainian counteroffensive begins
The Ukrainian Army’s long-awaited counteroffensive against the Russian forces began in the last few days as the two sides engage in fierce fighting along the eastern and southern Donetsk region.
Kyiv’s troops have been trained and equipped with advanced weapons and armored vehicles from its Western allies in anticipation of the ongoing conflict that could last for months. The fog of war and Ukrainian officials’ reluctance to disclose accurate information about military operations have made it hard to know the counteroffensive’s scale. However, here are the significant details known about the opening phase of the conflict.
Where is the counteroffensive happening?
The Ukrainian military is focusing on areas in the eastern and southern Donetsk region, with signs that it’s attempting to drive a wedge into the Russian-held territory between the Russian border and the occupied Crimea. The Mokri Yaly River and the surrounding small settlements, where fierce fighting has been taking place, are the primary targets.
Kyiv has also raised concerns about the Russian forces’ recent destruction of a small dam on the Mokri Yaly River, causing widespread flooding, with the aim of impeding the counteroffensive.
How much territory has Ukraine reclaimed?
The Ukrainian military has reportedly retaken a few farming villages along the Mokri Yaly River, with a senior Ukrainian official claiming that the military has reclaimed about 35 square miles of territory. However, it is still too early to determine the counteroffensive’s success as Ukraine has not yet managed to break through any of Russia’s defensive lines.
The analysts have estimated that it could take several weeks or months to determine the counteroffensive’s success.
How is Russia responding?
Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking to Russian war correspondents and military bloggers, denied Ukraine’s claims about its forces making any progress on the battlefield and argued that Ukrainian forces had suffered far more losses than the Russians. However, Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner paramilitary group, which has fought for Russia in Ukraine, has offered a conflicting view, stating that Ukrainian forces might have reclaimed more than 100 square kilometers of their territory.
Russian attack helicopters have reportedly struck a Ukrainian position near the town of Velyka Novosilka, close to the reclaimed villages.
What is the extent of Ukraine’s losses?
Ukraine has not disclosed its losses in detail, but its forces appear to be facing Russia’s heavily fortified defense lines that have been under construction for months, including minefields, trenches, and anti-tank ditches. As Ukrainian troops move further away from their lines, they become more vulnerable to Russian airstrikes.
According to military analysts, the initial phase of the counteroffensive is likely to cause losses, including the abandonment of several American-made Bradley fighting vehicles by the Ukrainian troops that have been destroyed or captured by the Russian forces.
Ukraine has not committed the bulk of its forces, including the Western-trained units, to any particular site, opting to probe Russian lines for vulnerabilities. As the conflict progresses, the extent of losses and damages is likely to become more transparent.
In conclusion, the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has started the much-anticipated counteroffensive phase, which has led to the retaking of some territories by the Ukrainian army. However, the extent of the conflict is yet to be determined, and the toll on both sides is likely to become apparent in the coming weeks or months.
