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| PHOTO: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images |
A string of small fights is more likely than a massed attack as Kyiv protects its troops
Ukrainian officials say their military’s southern offensive is going slowly. They also say that is precisely the plan.
The announcement Monday of a thrust in the south raised hopes that Ukraine could reclaim territory Russia seized early in the war, including the regional capital of Kherson.
But success could take many shapes, say officials and Western analysts. Even without quickly regaining much ground, Kyiv can achieve progress by forcing Russia to expose its troop locations and supply bases, take a defensive posture and thereby appear weak or pull troops from other parts of the country. Ukraine can also gain intelligence about Russian formations, vulnerabilities and will to fight.
Ukrainian officials say they have neither the armor nor the manpower to make a quick advance. Instead, the military aims to weaken front-line Russian forces while also using long-range artillery and rockets, such as Himars provided by the U.S., to hit critical installations behind Russian lines such as command posts and ammunition depots.
Kherson sits on the west bank of the Dnipro River, which Russian troops must cross to enter, resupply or leave the city. Ukraine’s military says its strikes on bridges across the Dnipro and the smaller Inhulets River to the city’s northeast have largely cut supply lines to Russian forces in the city.
Russia has roughly 20,000 troops in and around Kherson, Western officials estimate, cautioning the figure isn’t precise. Trapping them could potentially force a surrender, allow Ukraine to decimate them or force them to flee. Whatever happens, Ukraine hopes to retake Kherson without having to engage in bloody street fighting.
Oleksiy Arestovych, a Ukrainian presidential adviser, called the strategy “the systemic grinding of Putin’s army.” He said Kyiv’s forces are working “to uncover their operational logistical supply system and destroy it with artillery and Himars,” a process that can take time.
“There’s no rush,” he said. --->READ MORE HERE
On Saturday, 3 September, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked three control centres of the Russian occupiers and destroyed a facility serving to house Russian military personnel.
Source: Assembly of the Ukrainian General Staff as of 18:00 o’clock
Quote: "Missile units and artillery of the Ukrainian Defence Forces continue to engage in counterbattery combat and disrupt the occupiers’ control system and logistical support.
Damage was inflicted on three Russian control centres. A facility for Russian military personnel was destroyed and a unit of the Russian special forces came under Ukrainian fire. Details about the losses sustained by the aggressor are being confirmed.
Electronic warfare equipment and an ammunition storage site were also destroyed; as a result, the Russian ability to conduct offensive actions was significantly reduced."
Details: It should be noted that units of the Ukrainian Defence Forces are holding their positions and preventing the Russian forces from advancing deeper into the territory of Ukraine. The Defence Forces managed to successfully repel enemy attacks near the settlements of Dolyna, Soledar, Novobakhmutivka, Kodema, Zaitseve, Avdiivka and Marinka. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to +++++relevant+++++ and related stories:
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