The Ukrainian army has again reported territorial gains in the east and south of the country. Two square kilometers in the Bakhmut section were reportedly liberated last week, and several oil rigs were also recaptured, it was said. The Ukrainian counter-offensive was launched about three months ago.
According to Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar, a total of 49 square kilometers have been recaptured in the Bakhmut section. In the Zaporizhia area, the Russian occupiers were expelled from another 1.5 square kilometers south of the village of Robotyne and west of the city of Werbowe. Even more land gains are said to have been made on various oil rigs, for example the platform of the Boiko oil rigs was recaptured.
Russia had already captured the strategically important islands in 2015. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Kremlin can no longer use the gas and oil platforms for military purposes. “Russia has been deprived of the ability to fully control the waters of the Black Sea, and this brings Ukraine much closer to retaking Crimea,” the report said. The oil rigs are located not far from the annexed Crimean peninsula. The Russian side has not yet publicly responded to this information.
Before Russia conquered Crimea, the Ukrainian government obtained a significant portion of its natural gas from the Black Sea, supplying gas to both the peninsula and the mainland. The war in Ukraine has been going on for eighteen months. Russian occupiers still control more than 100,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean Peninsula. That is more than the entire area of Austria. In addition to the oil rigs, helicopter ammunition and a radar system for ships were also allegedly captured.
Success depends on reserves
According to military expert Carlo Massala, Ukrainian forces have a 40 to 50 percent chance of overcoming the remaining Russian defensive positions by the end of the year. “But that depends on several factors: how do the Russians react? Do you still have sufficient reserves? Will the Ukrainians continue their relatively smart operational behavior by breaking through the first two lines of defense? And: Can you minimize your losses?,” he told the newspapers of media group Funke.
The Ukrainian soldiers mainly need ammunition, spare parts and artillery systems. However, Massala considers it doubtful that slow arms deliveries will endanger the counter-offensive, as President Volodymyr Zelensky believes. Ukraine cannot obtain enough weapons from the West, such as 500 to 600 main battle tanks, because they are not available.
The Ukrainian counter-offensive is expected to continue into the fall and winter.
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.
