Ukrainian forces appear to have shelled the Russian-controlled city of Melitopol. The power grid was damaged, reports the Russian state news agency Tass. The power went out in the city and in some villages. The target of the attacks was the city’s railway depot. Ukrainian troops have relieved the battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut, according to British intelligence.
Melitopol has been occupied by Russian troops since March last year. It is located about 120 kilometers southeast of the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, where the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is expected to arrive later today. The Russian occupiers had made Melitopol the capital of the part of the Zaporizhia region they had conquered – also because they failed to take the capital of the region, Zaporizhia itself.
Important railway junction
Melitopol is an important railway hub for the Russian army. The city has a rail connection with Crimea and from there the tracks also lead to other cities in the area, which is of great importance for the supply of the occupying troops. The railway depot is the largest locomotive repair and maintenance facility in southeastern Ukraine.
The shelling of the depot by Ukrainian troops is probably mainly aimed at obstructing Russian supplies. Military experts expect a Ukrainian offensive to begin soon. One of the main target areas is the Zaporizhia region, where the Ukrainians could drive a wedge between Russian troops if they advanced towards the sea – via Melitopol, for example.
Fighting for Bachmut continues
Meanwhile, the fighting for Bakhmut continues. However, Russian strikes are still at a lower level than previous weeks, according to the British Ministry of Defence. “One of the main successes of the recent Ukrainian operations was probably the push back of Russian Wagner Group fighters from Route 0506,” it said. “This small country road has become an important supply line for the Ukrainian defenders. Wagner used to be only a few hundred meters from this street.”
Contrary to Russian media reports that the Wagner Group had captured an industrial complex in northern Bakhmut, fighting continued there. “Now that Wagner has confirmed the release of at least 5,000 fighting prisoners, a personnel shortage is likely to hamper Russian offensive efforts in this area.”
Source: Krone
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