A Ukrainian soldier fires a grenade launcher at Russian positions on the front line near Bakhmut.
(Photo: dpa)
Riga According to various reports, the Ukrainian counteroffensive is gaining momentum. Military analysts at the Washington-based Institute for War Studies (ISW) reported Friday morning that Ukraine has launched a counteroffensive with mixed results. The operations are part of a wider counter-offensive that ISW said has been underway since last Sunday.
For example, Ukraine has made tactical advances in the Donetsk region, and the Ukrainian army has also launched an offensive in the western Zaporozhye region, but as of the time of the report, no progress had been made, according to experts. ISW also reported that Ukraine lost some Western-supplied military vehicles on Thursday.
However, such losses “are unavoidable in any military endeavor.” The Ukrainian armed forces will suffer losses during the offensive, including “Western and Soviet equipment,” analysts said.
According to Niklas Masur, a military analyst who studies at ETH Zurich, Ukraine’s offensive efforts have “turned up a few notches” recently. The announced counteroffensive is presumably focused on Zaporozhye in the north and the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east.
Since yesterday, the US “Washington Post” and “New York Times” have also reported that the counterattack has begun. The New York Times named three senior U.S. government officials, and The Washington Post named four unnamed sources from the Ukrainian military.
Zelensky hails ‘results’ in Ukrainian army efforts
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday issued only a vague report on the latest battle with Russian offensive forces after Ukraine denied reports that a counteroffensive had begun. He said he was in contact with Ukrainian forces “in all the hottest places” and praised the “results” of their efforts, without elaborating. The statement could be interpreted as alluding to a counteroffensive. Zelensky also said in the video that it is not yet time to reveal the details of the battle.
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However, both Russian and Ukrainian authorities reported heavy fighting in the Donetsk region in the east of the country. The Russian side also reported fierce fighting in the Zaporozhye region in the south of the country.
Moscow’s government has described the latest developments as a massive Ukrainian counteroffensive, which it has stressed will be repelled. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the counteroffensive has already begun. “The deployment of the strategic reserve confirms this,” Putin told a conference in Sochi on Friday.On the other hand, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Marja had previously stated that Russian attack, which will be repelled. Ukraine accused Russia of spreading misinformation about the counteroffensive.
The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in Kherson region and the resulting flooding has sparked debate about the impact on the announced counter-offensive. According to ETH researcher Masuhr, the destruction of the dam had little direct impact on the military course of the war. “It is unlikely that Ukraine plans to use the Dnieper as an important axis of attack,” he told DPA.
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Both sides have also held the other responsible for the damage to the dam, even though it is located in territory controlled by Russian occupying forces. On Friday, Ukraine’s internal intelligence service said it had recorded a phone conversation proving Russia was responsible for the dam’s removal. This information could not be independently verified at this time. The reported death toll has now risen to 16.
The outcome of the counteroffensive could affect future arms shipments
The country’s international partners had high hopes for the country’s counteroffensive after the Ukrainian armed forces were able to liberate large swathes of previously occupied territory, including the city of Chersson, in late summer and fall last year. Against this backdrop, senior members of the government have repeatedly warned over the past few weeks that hopes were too high. After Ukraine received billions in military aid from the West, the success of the counteroffensive was considered a factor in deciding on further aid.
With proxy material.
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