For the first time, the Ukrainian military has claimed direct responsibility for attacks on Russian bases in Crimea. For example, missile strikes hit the Saki base on the peninsula, Ukrainian army chief Valeriy Zalushnyi wrote in an article he co-authored. Ten fighter jets were destroyed.
So far, Ukraine has only hinted that it may have been involved in the August attacks. In the article published on Wednesday for news agency Ukrinform, the army chief also wrote that the war is unlikely to end this year.
counter-offensive in the east
Despite this, the Ukrainian forces would make progress in their counter-offensive in the east of the country. Opposing senior separatist Danijil Bessonov from the Russian-occupied part of the Donetsk region reported that an attack on Balakliya had begun on Tuesday. The Ukrainian troops had been preparing this for a long time.
Videos and photos on social networks show recaptured villages around Balaklija, according to Russian information, some units are said to be threatened with encirclement. The city has a population of 27,000 and is located between the disputed city of Kharkov and Russian-occupied Ishum. Izyum is an important railway hub for Russian supplies.
Land acquisitions in the south
According to the Ukrainian armed forces, the actual major offensive is taking place in the south of the country. According to Thursday’s general staff report, there could also be land gains to be made here. For example, Russian air and artillery strikes were carried out on several towns in the Kherson region, which were previously considered to be Russian-controlled. A military spokeswoman said “some areas have been liberated”.
In general, the information and details are scarce or can hardly be verified. Western military experts assume that the Ukrainian army wants to arrest thousands of Russian soldiers on the western bank of the Dnieper River and destroy their supply lines.
The leadership in Kiev does not allow journalists to go to the front. Management reports are also only published to a limited extent. Despite recent territorial gains, Russia still owns more than 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
