In recent days, Ukraine has been attacked by Russian missiles at the fastest rate since the start of the war. Parts of Kiev are in ruins, with a number of people dead and injured.
At the same time, Ukrainian troops at the front are trying to recapture the occupied territories. The Americans have already sent four other Himars missile systems to Kiev, which can be used for a counterattack. “A good time for Ukraine, a bad time for our occupiers,” Ukraine’s defense minister Oleksiy Resnikov, 56, said on Wednesday.
There is no strength to retake the city of Kherson
The Ukrainian armed forces are mainly concentrated in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine. On Sunday they could announce some successes. According to Ukrainian authorities, five towns have been liberated by Russian troops: Novovasylivka, Novohryhorivka, Nova Kamyanka, Tryfonivka and Krasne.
But the conquest of the city of Kherson is not to be expected any time soon. It would put the Ukrainians in trouble, Wolfgang Richter, 73, a former colonel in the German army and now a military expert at the Science and Politics Foundation in Berlin, told Blick. The Ukrainians also lack the strength for a major attack on Crimea, he says.
Nevertheless, the Ukrainian authorities are optimistic. “We will continue to liberate areas and continue to push back the enemy in the Kherson region,” said Nataliya Gumenyuk, 39, a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian military command.
Counteroffensive meets defense
The situation is similar in the Luhansk region. While the eponymous capital remains under separatist control, Ukrainians were able to recapture new villages in the region on Sunday. The towns of Novolyubiwka, Nevske, Novojehorivka, Nadia, Andriivka and Stelmachivka are back under Ukrainian control. This is reported by the Ukrainian head of Luhansk, Serhiy Hajdaj (46).
The troops are currently trying to advance towards Kreminna and Swatowe. According to the analyzes of “Study of War” (ISW), counter-offensives are in full swing, with the Ukrainian army apparently attacking east of the Oskil River. But the counter-offensive met resistance from the Russians. According to their own statements, they were able to push back the Ukrainians north of Swatowe.
And the Ukrainians’ attempt to cross the Sherebets River near Kreminna also failed, according to Russian information – quoted by the ISW.
But the Ukrainians are not giving up. According to ISW, Russian military bloggers are convinced that the Ukrainian army is near Kupyansk and is gathering new troops there. Serhiy Hajdaj reports that the Russian military continues to mine the region, making the counteroffensive more difficult.
Russia tries Donetsk . to defend
Fighting continues in Donetsk. The Ukrainian army is currently concentrating mainly on the city of Bakhmut.
So far, however, with little success for Ukraine, ISW writes. Russia probably wants to avoid another defeat in an annexed territory, as was the case in the city of Lyman.