The Ukrainian counter-offensive is in full swing in the south and east of the country. The defenders have made their first ground gain. But they also encounter fierce resistance from the Russian invaders. Army Colonel Markus Reisner speaks of a “bad surprise” for the Ukrainians. Away from the front, however, they were able to deal a serious blow to Russia.
According to the military expert, the Russian armed forces could not only stop the Ukrainian offensive locally by deploying artillery and minefields, but also used the air force for tactical support. “The Ukrainian side is surprised by the stubbornness of the Russians and their flexibility,” Reisner told ntv.de.
The Russian armed forces have changed tactics and become more mobile. “They are now using very small mobile squads with anti-tank guided missiles with a range of two kilometers on buggies,” the Guards commander explained. These small vehicles are barely recognizable, which is a “bad surprise” for Ukraine.
Advance at Bachmut
According to the army, the Ukrainian army has advanced up to 1.4 kilometers in some places near Bakhmut. “We are trying to attack the enemy, we are counterattacking,” the East Command spokesman said on Saturday. The Russian forces also launched attacks, but were unsuccessful. According to the US Institute for War Studies (ISW), Ukraine counterattacked at least four front sectors.
Fighting took place near the city of Bakhmut, near the city of Kreminna, in the southwest of the Donetsk region and in the west of the Zaporizhia region, according to the latest situation report on Friday (local time), citing information from Kiev , Moscow and Russian military bloggers .
Retreat through your own minefields
According to British intelligence, Ukrainian troops were able to break through the first line of Russian defenses in some areas. In some cases the Russians would succeed in defensive maneuvers, in others they retreated “in disarray,” it said from London on Saturday. Accordingly, reports of Russian losses pile up as they retreat through their own minefields.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy kept a low profile on the progress of Friday night’s offensive. He met with Stavka, Ukraine’s high command, on Friday, Zelensykj said in his nightly video address. It was about “our defensive actions, our offensive actions, our gains on the front lines”.
Then Zelenskyy thanked all the soldiers “who are in particularly difficult battles today.” The Ukrainian soldiers are paying attention to all places “where our actions are necessary and the enemy may suffer certain losses,” the Ukrainian president said.
Russian headquarters hit
Away from the front, the Ukrainian troops apparently managed to deal a sensitive blow to the Russian forces. Photos of a burning building are shared on social media. This is probably the headquarters of the Russian armed forces in southern Ukraine. Swiss OSINT expert Benjamin Pittet was able to use the published data to determine the location of the building (see below).
The headquarters was long in Kherson and before the first Ukrainian counter-offensive it was moved further south to the city of Henichesk. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not visit his troops there until April.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
