ISW: a counteroffensive is underway, over the past day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted operations in three sectors of the front

Specialists of the Institute for the Study of War note that at least in 3 sectors of the front, with different results, Ukraine conducted counter-offensive operations.

A Ukrainian counteroffensive has begun in the Zaporozhye region, Western media report, citing information from various sources. At the same time, active battles have been going on since the beginning of the week, but the development of events on Thursday indicates the beginning of a counteroffensive with the main blow, most likely, in Zaporozhye.

Vladimir Rogov, head of the public movement “We are together with Russia”, told RIA Novosti that the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a large-scale counteroffensive in the Zaporozhye region: “The enemy launched the maximum forces of the military and equipment on the Zaporozhye sector of the front. This quantity has never been used in our direction.”

On the probable direction of the direction of the main direction of the counteroffensive, Zaporozhye, writes on Thursday by The New York Times, citing a senior US official.

Military experts have previously noted that success in this direction will allow Ukraine to reach the Crimea and cut the “land bridge” through which the Russian group is supplied from the peninsula. In case of luck, Konrad Muzyka, director of the Polish Rochan Consulting, notes, “the entire Russian front in the southeast” of Ukraine may collapse.

How writes The Financial Times, after talking with two Western officials and two Ukrainian soldiers, noted the first case of massive tank strikes by Ukraine (with the participation of German tanks), which indicates a serious start to the offensive. Layered fortifications, “Dragon’s Teeth”, anti-tank hedgehogs and minefields have been erected on the path of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The occupied territories are prepared for defense.

Julian Röpke, a military observer for the German Bild, confirms the start of the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporozhye region. His conclusions are based on the analysis of photographic and video materials from the scene of hostilities. According to Repke, the blow was delivered from the Orekhov region to the cities of Pologi, Tokmak, Vasilievka and Melitopol:

“I can confirm that the Ukrainian [танки] Leopard 2A4s are advancing in various directions south of Orekhovo and encountering stubborn resistance from Russian minefields and artillery.”

The Ukrainian army strikes hard in the southeast of the country, reported The Washington Post four people in the Armed Forces. They are carried out by special assault units using Western technology, using NATO tactics, which they learned in preparation for the offensive.

Two Ukrainian officials, one of whom is close to the Ukrainian president, confirmed ABC Newsthat the active phase of the counter-offensive had begun. Judging by the numerous reports received in recent hours, stubborn battles are taking place south of the city of Zaporozhye. Well-trained Ukrainian units have pulled up to the front lines in strategically important areas in recent days, ABC News reports, citing US officials.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced an attempt to break through last night in Zaporozhye, and Russian military bloggers report the same. According to Shoigu and Rogov, all blows were repulsed, the Armed Forces of Ukraine suffered huge losses. It is not possible to confirm or refute these statements.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have concentrated a large number of German Leopard tanks and American Bradley infantry fighting vehicles in the Zaporozhye direction, it seems that a major offensive operation is unfolding here, says Michael Kofman, military export to Russia of the American think tank CNA. According to him, it seems that the blow is being struck “on Tokmak” – a city located south of Zaporozhye, on the way to the more western Melitopol and located to the east on the coast of the Sea of ​​u200bu200bAzov Berdyansk.

By data ISW, On June 8, Ukrainian troops lost a number of vehicles provided by the West. The Russian Ministry of Defense responded to the Ukrainian attack with an uncharacteristic degree of coherence and praised the units of the Southern Military District for repelling the attack and regaining lost positions.

However, the report notes that Ukrainian attacks in western Zaporozhye on June 8 do not reflect the full extent of Ukrainian capabilities in the current counter-offensive. It is assumed that the Ukrainian counter-offensive will likely consist of many activities of varying scale, including more localized attacks, as seen in this sector on June 8, and smaller efforts do not reflect the maximum potential of Ukrainian numbers or effectiveness.

Ukraine has reportedly formed 12 special counteroffensive brigades. It appears, experts write, that Ukraine has deployed only a fraction of the large pool of forces available for counter-offensive operations, and observers should avoid counting reports of Ukrainian brigades destroying or damaging Western weapons as a measure of the remaining effective combat capability of Ukrainian forces.

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