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CNN —Ukraine’s counteroffensive is “moving forward” after Kyiv made some headway in its campaign to recapture territory seized by Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday. Despite everything and no matter what anyone says, we are advancing, and that is the most important thing. It is unclear if Zelensky is referring to a specific official or comment, but he appears to be trying to reverse the narrative that Ukraine’s summer counteroffensive has, to date, delivered poorer-than-expected results. Despite continued sluggish progress, Kyiv said in mid-July it felt no pressure for quick results. Zelensky and Kirby’s statements echo what Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Friday.
Persons: CNN —, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Zelenksy, John Kirby, Dmytro Kuleba, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Kuleba, CNN Kuleba, you’re, ” Kuleba Organizations: CNN, Kyiv, US National Security Council, Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian Locations: Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, Robotyne, Crimean, Kremlin, Kyiv, Verbove, United States
Ukrainian forces notched victories this week against two lines of Russian defense, according to a White House spokesman, who called the advances “notable progress” in Kyiv’s counteroffensive. The spokesman, John Kirby, declined to discuss war plans for Ukraine but said the U.S. expected Ukrainian forces to continue to push farther south, which will require “tough fighting ahead.”Ukraine celebrated a tactical victory this week when its forces retook the southern village of Robotyne. A senior Ukrainian military official said today that Ukrainian units had successfully pushed about three and a half miles farther south of Robotyne toward Melitopol, a primary target of the counteroffensive. The White House comments came a day after Ukraine’s foreign minister sharply derided criticism of the counteroffensive as slow. “I would recommend all critics to shut up, come to Ukraine and try to liberate one square centimeter by themselves,” he said.
Persons: John Kirby, Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Robotyne, Ukrainian, Melitopol
[1/2] Russian service members walk near a burnt car following recent shelling in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, September 1, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Ukraine said on Friday its troops had broken through Russia's first line of defences in several places, though they have then encountered even more heavily-fortified Russian positions. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said Kyiv's troops, in a much-vaunted counteroffensive against Russian forces, were advancing in the Zaporizhzhia region. Washington also said on Friday that Kyiv had made notable progress on the southern front in the last 72 hours. "They have achieved some success against that second line of Russian defenses," Kirby said, adding it was up to Ukraine on how to capitalize on that success.
Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, Hanna Maliar, Maliar, John Kirby, Kirby, they've, Mykhailo Podolyak, Tom Balmforth, Trevor Hunnicitt, Susan Heavey, Peter Graff Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Deputy, Russian, White, National Security, Kyiv, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Donetsk, Russian, Zaporizhzhia, Washington, United States, Robotyne, Kyiv, Moscow
Russia's extensive defenses are forcing Ukraine to clear a path 10 miles wide for full-scale attack. Ukraine needs the space to protect its Western-made tanks and vehicles, The Wall Street Journal reported. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. But that route will need to be at least 10 miles wide to protect prized Western-made tanks and armored vehicles from powerful Russian artillery. Now, Ukraine will need to clear that 10-mile path in order to successfully breach past Russian defenses.
Persons: Bradley, Oleksii, it's Organizations: Street Journal, Service, Combat, Wall Street Journal, Institute for, General Staff of, Armed Forces Locations: Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, Wall, Silicon, Verbove, Robotyne, Dnipro, Russian, Azov, Mariupol
CNN —Ukrainian forces said they had penetrated the “first line” of Russian strongholds in the Zaporizhzhia region, in a sign that Kyiv is edging closer to Moscow’s sprawling network of fortified trenches along the southern front. CNN reported earlier this month that the US had been receiving increasingly “sobering updates.”A Ukrainian serviceman walks near a destroyed Ukrainian tank near Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region, on August 25, 2023. Viacheslav Ratynskyi/ReutersUkrainian soldiers ride a tank near Robotyne, a village that Kyiv took last week amid a slow and grueling counteroffensive against dense Russian defense lines. Viacheslav Ratynskyi/ReutersRussian military bloggers reported increased activity near the village of Verbove, in southeastern Ukraine, but said Moscow’s forces were resisting Ukrainian advances. Units were also stationed on the western edge of the village of Verbove, the brigade said on Telegram.
Persons: Viacheslav Ratynskyi, Verbove “, Yevgeniy Balitsky, WarGonzo Organizations: CNN, Kyiv, Ukrainian, , Reuters, 46th Brigade, , Verbove Locations: Zaporizhzhia, Robotyne, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Reuters Ukrainian, Kyiv, Reuters Russian, Verbove, Solodka, Tokmak, Novoprokopivka, Russian
[1/2] Ukrainian servicemen put out burning grass near their positions, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near a front line, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine August 31, 2023. Nearly three months since launching a much vaunted counteroffensive using hundreds of billions of dollars of Western military equipment, Ukraine has recaptured more than a dozen villages but has yet to penetrate Russia's main defences. "I would recommend all critics to shut up, come to Ukraine and try to liberate one square centimetre by themselves," he said at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Spain. DRONE ATTACKS WITHIN RUSSIAUkraine has also stepped up attacks using drones on targets deep within Russia itself and in Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine. While Ukraine rarely comments directly on specific attacks inside Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appeared to boast of the Pskov attack on Thursday.
Persons: Oleksandr Ratushniak, Dmitro Kuleba, Jens Stoltenberg, Hanna Maliar, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Utkin, Prigozhin, Peter Graff, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, NATO, Russia KYIV, New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, Ukrainian, Reuters, Russia, Kremlin, Nazi, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia region, Russia, Moscow, Ukrainian, Spain, Russian, Robotyne, Western Zaporizhzhia, Novopokropivka, Kyiv, Bakhmut, RUSSIA Ukraine, Bryansk, Crimea, Pskov, St Petersburg
Ukrainian forces have pushed into the main line of Russian defenses south of Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine launched its counteroffensive operations roughly three months ago, and efforts to break through Russian defenses and regain occupied territory have been relatively slow. On Monday, Ukraine's defense minister Oleksii Reznikov said that Ukraine's forces "broke the first line," adding that they are expanding their foothold. In both cases, Ukraine faces tough defenses as they attempt to push forward into the main line. For now, Ukraine will have to take the small wins and continue to pressure Russian defenses, which remain formidable.
Persons: It's, Oleksii Reznikov, they're, they've Organizations: Service, Institute for, General Staff of, Armed Forces, Bradley, Street Journal Locations: Zaporizhzhia, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Ukraine, Verbove, Robotyne, Zaporizhia, Dnipro, Western
After piercing a daunting line of Russian defenses around the southern village of Robotyne, Ukrainian forces are now seeking to take the next step in their arduous counteroffensive, waging a fierce battle a few miles farther to the east, according to Ukrainian military commanders and U.S. officials. The intense fighting on Thursday comes amid weeks of brutal battles that have resulted in small but significant advances that Ukrainian forces are trying to exploit, with the broader goal of driving a wedge into the so-called land bridge between Russia and occupied Crimea, which is vital to the Russian military’s supply routes. The Ukrainian 46th Brigade, which is participating in the fighting in the area, said that its assault units were attacking Russian positions near the village of Verbove, nine miles east of Robotyne. The move toward Verbove is notable because it shows that Ukraine is confident enough in its hold on Robotyne that it believes its troops can try to press forward.
Organizations: Ukrainian 46th Brigade Locations: Robotyne, Russia, Crimea, Verbove, Ukraine
Russian and Ukrainian drones are causing traffic jams in the Donetsk airspace, a pilot said. "The area has turned into 'Frankfurt Airport:' a frenzied traffic of drones — both their own and those of others," Voroshnov told Unian. "We were absolute masters in the night sky," Voroshnov told Unian. AdvertisementAdvertisementAs a result, Ukrainian drone operators have to be strategic with how and when they use drones, Voroshnov said. "We are moving to smart war," Voroshnov told Unian.
Persons: Mykola Voroshnov, Forbes, Voroshnov, Unian, there's, Yuri Shchyhol Organizations: Service, Frankfurt, Ukrainian Telegram, CNN, Forbes, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Donetsk, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, India, Ukraine, Robotyne, Russia
KYIV, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Russian shelling killed a 45-year-old civilian man in the town of Kupiansk on Tuesday, local officials said, as Moscow's forces try to advance in northeastern Ukraine. Ukrainian troops began a counteroffensive in the east and south in early June but have made slow progress through Russian minefields and trenches blocking their southern push, intended to reach the Sea of Azov and split Russian forces. Kyiv also said its troops had had some "success" in the direction of the village of Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia region, but gave no details. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said fighting was heavy in the country but that Ukrainian forces were making progress around the Russian-occupied city of Bakhmut in the east. Russian officials had said Moscow's forces are holding their ground in Bakhmut, and have not confirmed the loss of Robotyne.
Persons: Oleh Synehubov, Kupiansk, Hanna Maliar, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Organizations: Kupiansk, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Kupiansk, Ukraine, Russia, Kharkiv, Azov, Zaporizhzhia, Robotyne, Verbove, Bakhmut
A military expert mapped out his suggestion for a Ukrainian counteroffensive strike. Thanks to the capture of Robotyne over the weekend, Tokmak is already within artillery range, Martin wrote. It would remain for Ukrainian forces to be close enough to the M14 to keep that, too, within artillery range, Martin wrote. That requires advancing roughly 25 miles further than Ukrainian forces have reached in several locations. It means slow, grinding progress, which saw Ukrainian forces retake the town of Robotyne, northwest of Melitopol, over the weekend.
Persons: Mike Martin, That's, Martin, Tokmak, David Petraeus Organizations: Service, Russian, Department of, King's College London, Ukrainian, Shadow Locations: Ukrainian, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia, Crimean, Ukraine's, Tokmak, Crimea, Kerch, Russia, Robotyne
Russia has sent elements of an elite paratrooper division to the south of Ukraine, reports say. Ukraine recently sent its powerhouse 82nd Air Assault Brigade into battle in Robotyne, which helped it achieve its breakthrough, per Forbes. Using the 76th in the south suggests Russia lacks reserves, experts sayElements of Russia's elite 76th Guard Air Assault Division have been deployed in key parts of Ukraine throughout the conflict. Russia's decision to redeploy elements of these units to the south suggests that Russian forces lack sizable operational reserves, the ISW said. The units sent to Robotyne appear to have been moved from the Kremmina area in eastern Ukraine, ISW noted.
Persons: Rob Lee, ISW Organizations: Analysts, Service, 76th Guard Air Assault Division, Foreign Policy Research Institute, Reuters, Air Assault Brigade, Forbes, Twitter Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia, Philadelphia, Azov
Moscow's guided bombs are among the 'biggest fears' for front-line forces, the soldier said. Ukrainian forces have since gotten better about eliminating these threats, but others remain, such as Russian aircraft that can release guided bombs at a distance. "KAB's are one of the biggest fears," Solonko said, referring to Russia's arsenal of guided bombs. Solonko's commentary came just after Ukrainian forces raised the country's flag in Robotyne, a small village in the Zaporizhzhia region. In the video, a soldier described the covert nighttime mission to raise the Ukrainian flag in Robotyne.
Persons: Oleksandr Solonko, Solonko, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Ukrainian, 128th, Brigade, Territorial Defence Forces, 47th Mechanized Brigade, Ukrainian Armed Forces Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Zaporizhzhia, Robotyne
The enemy has been preparing to meet you for a long time,” Solonko wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. It’s unclear whether minefields are as thick deeper into Russian lines, where they might interfere with Russian forces’ own ability to maneuver. A tremendous amount of work has been done,” Solonko wrote. On Friday a Ukrainian officer with a front line unit told CNN that the open terrain was a challenge. The Russians are extensively using drones for surveillance and targeting Ukrainian positions, according to Solonko.
Persons: Oleksandr Solonko, ” Solonko, , , Solodka Balka, Emil Kastehelmi, ” Kastehelmi, Viacheslav Ratynskyi, Reuters Solonko, Robotyne Organizations: CNN, tripwires, Ukrainian Armed Forces, ” Analysts, Institute for, Reuters Locations: Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia, Bakhmut, Solodka, Tokmak, Washington, Bradley
Ukraine says it liberates strategic southeastern settlement
  + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +3 min
Ukrainian soldiers of the Separate Assault Battalion 'Skala' enter the embattled village of Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on August 25, 2023. Separate Assault Battalion 'Skala' of the Ukrainian Armed Forces/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Ukraine said on Monday its troops had liberated the southeastern settlement of Robotyne and were trying to push further south in their counteroffensive against Russian forces. The Ukrainian military said last week that its forces had raised the national flag in the strategic settlement, but were still carrying out mopping-up operations. She said Russian troops were gathering new forces there and regrouping, and Moscow was aiming to deploy its best troops there. She added that in the past week Ukrainian forces had retaken 1 square km (0.39 square mile) around Bakhmut, and Russian troops had not made any advances.
Persons: Robotyne, Hanna Maliar, Maliar, Tom Balmforth, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Organizations: Separate, Ukrainian Armed Forces, REUTERS, Rights, Russian, Reuters, NATO, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Orikhiv, Tokmak, Russian, Azov, Mala Tokmachka, Russia, Moscow, Bakhmut, Poltava, Ukrainian
Two people were killed and five injured after a Russian missile strike on the Poltava region in central-eastern Ukraine, state authorities said. Russian officials reported that their air defense forces shot down a drone approaching Moscow, resulting in the halting of some flights in the Moscow region. Kyiv says it has liberated the southeastern village of Robotyne, claiming a victory in terms of territorial gains as it pushes on with its grinding counteroffensive into Russian-held land. Elsewhere, the Russian billionaire co-founder of tech giant Yandex is reportedly appealing EU sanctions against him after he vocally criticized Russia's war in Ukraine. The request to lift sanctions will be discussed by EU officials in September, the Financial Times reported.
Organizations: EU, Financial Times Locations: Russian, Poltava, Ukraine, Moscow, Kyiv, Robotyne
Ukraine’s military said on Monday that its forces had retaken the southern village of Robotyne, a tactical victory that underlines the immense challenge Kyiv’s counteroffensive faces in punching through deep and dense Russian defenses. The capture of Robotyne would mean that Ukrainian forces have penetrated the first layer of minefields, tank traps, trenches and bunkers installed by the Russians since they invaded, military analysts say, potentially creating new strategic opportunities. The ultimate target of the thrust to Robotyne is the city of Melitopol, about 45 miles farther south, and more layers of Russian defenses lie in the way. “Robotyne has been liberated,” said Hanna Malyar, a Ukrainian deputy defense minister. She told the Military Media Center, a platform for Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, that Ukrainian forces were now advancing southeast toward the villages of Novoprokopivka and Ocheretuvato despite “fierce resistance” from Russian forces.
Persons: “ Robotyne, , Hanna Malyar Organizations: Military Media Center, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense Locations: Robotyne, Melitopol, Ukrainian, Novoprokopivka
Ukraine only needs to advance 10 miles to "crush the Russian army," says a war expert. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhere intelligence analysts see distances on maps of southern Ukraine, military planners see something very different. They apply military math and calculate that Ukraine does not need to advance 50 miles to "crush the Russian army and strangle the troops in frontline fortifications"— 10 miles will suffice to make headway, wrote Kallberg. From here, the Ukrainian counteroffensive needs to advance 7-10 miles to disrupt Russia's east-west transport routes, inhibiting the Russian army's ability to mobilize and fight. Russian military bloggers are gloomyUkrainian troops train with heavy weapons near the frontline in Zaporizhzhia on April 20, 2023.
Persons: Jan Kallberg, Russia's, Skala, Muhammed Enes Yildirim, Mark Milley Organizations: Reuters, Service, Center for, Washington Post, Separate, Ukrainian Armed Forces, REUTERS, Anadolu Agency, Getty, US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington DC, CNN Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Wall, Silicon, Kallberg, Crimea, Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian, Orikhiv, Azov
[1/6] Ukrainian soldiers of the Separate Assault Battalion 'Skala' enter the embattled village of Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on August 25, 2023. Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June, but well-prepared Russian defence lines reinforced by minefields have slowed their southward advance towards the Sea of Azov. "We don't stop here," said a commander who led some of the troops into Robotyne and uses the nom de guerre "Kombat". Both are occupied by Russian forces following Moscow's full-scale invasion in February last year. A U.S. official said last week that Ukrainian forces did not appear likely to be able to reach and retake Melitopol in their counteroffensive, intended to split Russian forces in the south.
Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Vladyslav Smilianets, Pavel Polityuk, Timothy Heritage, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Separate, Ukrainian Armed Forces, REUTERS Acquire, Reuters, Robotyne, U.S, Thomson Locations: Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Azov, Ukrainian, Orikhiv, Berdiansk, Melitopol, Moscow
Ukraine's counteroffensive has breached Russian first defensive line, Gen. Mark Milley said. Milley said that the advance is "bloody, long and slow" but that this is not unusual in war. "This defensive line, which the Russians spent many months preparing, it's got minefields, it's got dragon's teeth, it's got tank ditches. One Russian blogger writing about the upturn in Ukraine's fighting fortunes said: "The bastards are rapidly advancing, covered by artillery strikes." The ISW said, "Russia's lack of operational reserves will force the Russian command to conduct additional redeployments as Ukrainian counteroffensive operations continue to degrade defending Russian forces in several sectors of the front."
Persons: Mark Milley, Milley, they've, Al, Mamlaka, it's, Gian Marco Benedetto Organizations: Service, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Anadolu Agency, Getty, UK Department of Defense, for, Washington DC, CNN Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Zaporizhzhya, Zaporizhzhia
CNN —Signs are growing that Ukrainian forces have penetrated the first line of Russian defenses along part of the southern front lines in Zaporizhzhia region, and are expanding a wedge in the direction of the strategic town of Tokmak. “Otryady Kadyrovtsy” [Kadyrov Detachments] painted a similar picture, saying: “Heavy fighting continues in the Robotyne area. On Thursday, the spokeswoman for Ukraine’s southern command, Nataliya Humenyuk, said Russian forces were bringing more forces to the Zaporizhzhia area from Kherson to the south, due to the heavy casualties among units already there. Yurii Malashko, head of Zaporizhzhia region military administration, said there were almost no buildings left standing in Robotyne after weeks of fighting in the area. “The Ukrainian forces’ ability to advance to the outskirts of Robotyne – which Russian forces have dedicated significant effort, time, and resources to defend – remains significant even if Ukrainian gains are limited at this time,” the ISW said.
Persons: Valerii, ” Ukraine’s, , , Ratynskyi, “ We’re, Nataliya Humenyuk, Yurii Malashko, ” ISW Organizations: CNN, Ukrainian, Staff, General Staff, Reuters Ukrainian, Russian, Combined Arms Army, , Reuters, Kadyrov, Washington DC, Ukraine Locations: Zaporizhzhia, Tokmak, Novoprokopivka, Ocheretuvate, Robotyne ., Robotyne, Russia, Verbove, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Mala Tokmachka, Russian, Kherson, Azov, Crimea, Donetsk
Ukraine's arduous counteroffensive is "far from over," General David Petraeus has said. Nonetheless, with enough pressure the Russian line can "suddenly break," he wrote. Faced with this, even the US would struggle, Petraeus told CNN. "Ukraine is applying pressure on their opponent until something breaks, at which point they will commit their reserves and strike," Petraeus and Kagan wrote. "When the conditions are right, they're picking their way through these minefields now," Petraeus told CNN.
Persons: David Petraeus, Frederick Kagan, Petraeus, Kagan, Tony Radakin, Patrick Bury Organizations: Service, CIA, CNN, Washington Post, SPG, Getty Images, Air Assault Brigade, Facebook, Air Assault Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Iraq, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Roman, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Melitopol
Ukrainian forces raise the national flag in the settlement of Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, in this screen grab taken from a social media video released August 23, 2023. Telegram Valerii Zaluzhnyi/via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsAug 23 (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces have raised the national flag in the settlement of Robotyne in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, Kyiv's military said on Wednesday, though it was not clear whether the entire community had been liberated from Russian forces. Soldiers of the 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade set up the flag of Ukraine in the village of Robotyne, in one of the hottest destinations – Melitopol," the brigade said in a post on its Telegram channel. In a video published by General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, the Ukrainian flag is seen on a roof of a badly damaged building surrounded by burnt trees. "A blue and yellow flag signed by the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was raised on the school destroyed by the Russian invaders on the National Flag Day!"
Persons: Valerii, General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Mark Heinrich, David Evans, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Mechanised Brigade, Armed Forces, 47th Brigade, Reuters, Russia's, Thomson Locations: Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Melitopol
Western officials think Ukraine misallocated its counteroffensive resources, The New York Times reported. Defense strategists want Ukraine to focus its efforts on pushing toward the south. But a southern push could result in troop and equipment losses, the outlet reported. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. But Ben Hodges, a retired lieutenant general and former commander of US Army Europe, cautioned against counting Ukraine out too soon.
Persons: Ben Hodges, Hodges, Mark, Ukraine's Organizations: New York Times, Defense, Service, US Army, Ukrainian, Times, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Crimea materializes Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Crimea, Bakhmut, Zaporizhzhia, US Army Europe
Ukrainian servicemen of the 108th Separate Brigade of Territorial Defence fire small multiple launch rocket systems towards Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near a front line in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine August 19, 2023. REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummary Ukraine began counteroffensive in early JuneUkrainian troops encountering minefields and trenchesDeputy defence minister says Ukraine defying the oddsKYIV, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Ukraine has made progress in its counteroffensive against Russian forces simply by proving it can push back a better-armed and numerically superior enemy, a senior Ukrainian official said on Tuesday. Ukrainian troops have faced vast Russian minefields and trenches in the counteroffensive launched in early June, and a U.S. official said last week it looked unlikely that Kyiv would be able to recapture the strategic southern city of Melitopol. Armed with Western tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, Ukraine has retaken a string of villages but no larger settlements. SOUTHWARD PUSHMaliar, a war crimes lawyer, has served as a deputy defence minister since 2021.
Persons: Viacheslav, Hanna Maliar, Maliar, Dan Peleschuk, Anna Dabrowska, Tom Balmforth, Timothy Organizations: 108th, Brigade, Territorial Defence, REUTERS, Russian, U.S, Reuters, Ukraine, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukrainian, Melitopol, Ukraine's, Russian, Robotyne, Tokmak, Azov, Berlin, Kharkiv, Kherson
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