The 47th Mechanized Brigade, the spearhead of Ukraine’s counter-offensive, has suffered heavy material losses in its attempt to break through into southern Ukraine. Half of the Leopard 2R tanks supplied by Finland were destroyed in a minefield (see video above). Army Colonel Markus Reisner analyzes why Thursday’s attack came at such a high price.
In an attack on Thursday south of the village of Mala Tokmachka in the Zaporizhia region, the battalions wanted to make a breakthrough and sent tanks with a special demining device in front. You must plow through the Russian minefields and clear a path for main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers.
Tanks must break through
A risky proposition: A frontal attack aimed at breaching enemy fortifications is one of the most difficult and potentially costly operations in ground combat. In the attack, Ukrainian forces lost several main battle tanks, including three Leopard 2R minesweeping tanks supplied by Finland. Russian military bloggers posted images of the destroyed planes on social media, and the Finnish daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat verified them.
Ukraine has lost half of the total of six Leopard 2R supplied by Finland. They were gladly given to Kiev, but in Finland they were rarely used because in winter conditions they cannot be used without restrictions.
Extensive minefields
Why did the attack by the 47th Mechanized Brigade fail on Thursday? Army Colonel Markus Reisner gives several reasons for this to the “Krone”. The Russians had already laid extensive minefields in the line of the battle’s outposts, allowing only limited movement in a few cleared lanes. At the same time, Russia relied on the massive use of drones, “which kept hitting”.
The Russian invaders also received artillery and air support, while the Ukrainian battalions received no artillery support and did not use smoke grenades to block the enemy’s view. In addition to tactical errors, Reisner also sees the “arrogance” caused by the availability of superior Western equipment as problematic. The Ukrainian armed forces had relied too much on the “invincible leopard”.
Strategic point
The sector south of Mala Tokmachka is extremely important for Ukrainian strategy on the southern front. From here the defenders try to advance to Tokmak, 35 kilometers further south. The strategically important city is located on the main corridor towards Melitopol on the Sea of Azov, which is occupied by the Russian armed forces. If the Ukrainians manage to break through here, they have a chance to drive a wedge between the Russian troops, Forbes military correspondent David Ax analyzes.
He views Ukrainian losses as “probably inevitable” in a necessary operation and expects further progress from Ukraine in the south. So far only three of the nine brigades set up for the counter-offensive with Western military equipment have intervened in the fighting. The Ukrainians would have enough other war machines to overcome the Russian minefields.
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.
