War observers surprised by counter-offensive: The Russians struck back – and violently

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263 times. That’s the number of times Ukrainian troops have attacked Russian positions since the Ukrainian counter-offensive began in early June. At least that is what Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (68) claims in a speech to the Ministry of Defense on Tuesday.

That such high-ranking Russian officials speak so openly about the counter-offensive and admit losses at the same time is a novelty. In fact, according to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), “a marked difference from the failure of the Russian Defense Ministry to prepare a united response to Ukraine’s counter-offensives in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions in the fall of 2022.”

The Russian army strikes back – violently

At that point, the Ukrainian army managed to push back Russian troops in Kherson and Kharkiv within weeks. This was mainly because the enemy was not prepared for these attacks. This counter-offensive is different: the Russians struck back – and with enormous violence, according to the ISW.

In recent days, reports have been piling up about a fierce Russian counteroffensive on the counteroffensive. Russian forces carried out drone and rocket attacks on the Zaporizhia region on Tuesday. Kalibr missiles and Shahed drones continued to rain down on southern Ukraine on Monday. This is reported by the Ukrainian General Staff on the appropriate days.

And according to the British Ministry of Defence Twitter: Russia is significantly expanding its defense lines in southern Ukraine. In particular, Russian troops are digging in around the entrances to the annexed Crimean peninsula and apparently preparing for heavy fighting. It was also said that Russian forces were conducting “relatively effective defensive operations” in southern Ukraine.

Russians fear Ukrainian attacks

However, these complex defense systems testify not only to good Russian preparation – but also to Russian fear. According to British intelligence, the fortifications underscore the Russian leadership’s assessment that Ukrainian forces are capable of launching a direct attack on Crimea. Rightly so – the Ukrainian troops are making progress.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar, 44, gave a more detailed assessment of the battlefield on Telegram on Tuesday. “Everything is happening there according to the plan drawn up by the army. There are nudges in every direction our military moves. But the enemy simply does not want to give up the occupied positions and so the fierce fighting and a very strong duel continues.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (45) also responded to the counter-offensive on Tuesday evening: “Now our fighters are very active in destroying the enemy in the south and east and physically clearing Ukraine,” Zelensky said in a video message. And announces: “This will continue in the future.”

Source: Blick