Situation at the front: Ukraine struggles with its offensive Esa is planning a controlled satellite crash for the first time

For just over a month, Ukrainian forces have been on the offensive rather than on the defensive. “Spring offensive”, “big offensive”, “counterattack” or whatever you want to call the campaign – it is not particularly successful.

Despite massive arms shipments from the West, Ukraine’s advance does not appear to have progressed as far as it should. An overview of the different fronts.

Bachmut

For several months, Bakhmut was the focus of the war. Wagner’s forces battled the Ukrainian defenses and eventually triumphed by taking the city. Now the situation has turned 180 degrees – Russian troops hold the position, Ukraine is making slow progress.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on Sunday that Ukrainian troops continued to attack settlements north and south of the city.

The Ukrainian Milblog channel "Bachmutskij Demon" reported on Sunday evening that the Russians would hold their position near Klishchiivka (south of Bakhmut) despite heavy casualties. This coincides with a report from the Russian Defense Ministry.

According to the agency sda, citing reports from the Ukrainian army, Ukraine is said to have already recaptured about 35 square kilometers around Bakhmut. However, this information has not been independently verified.

Zaporizhia

The Ukrainian advance also seems to be progressing slowly on the Zaporizhia front. According to ISW reports, Ukrainian troops continue to advance towards the village of Robotyne, some 30 kilometers southeast of the partially dried-out Kakhovka dam.

In fact, fighting has been going on for the village for a long time - Watson reported clashes a month ago. Meanwhile, Russian sources say several Ukrainian attacks on Robotyne were repelled on Saturday and Sunday night.

Further west, Ukraine is also making slow progress: according to the ISW, Ukrainian troops have entered the village of Staromajorske from the north, but the extent of their success is not clear. Geolocation and a Russian milblogger confirm this, another reports that Russian troops were able to repulse further Ukrainian advances at Staromajorske.

Swatowe

In the north of the front, west of the town of Svatove, Ukrainian forces have suffered setbacks in recent days. According to the ISW, Russia appears to have made "significant progress" along the Swatowe-Kremmina line. However, most of the information for this comes from Russian Milblog sources and could not be independently verified by the ISW.

According to a Milblogger, Russian troops crossed the Sherebets River at Karmazynivka and seized further land on the west bank of the river. Another reports that the Ukrainian defenses have been breached up to four kilometers deep at this point.

Kherson region

Clashes broke out again between Ukrainian special forces and Russian troops on the left bank of the Dniper. Specifically, small Ukrainian units are probing Russian defense positions at Hola Prystan and Krynyk, according to the ISW.

Ukraine still has small areas on the Russian-controlled side of the river. Nataliya Humenyuk, spokeswoman for the Southern Defense Command, said Russia had parachuted troops along the Dnieper River to sabotage the Ukrainian advance.

According to Humenyuk, the Russian army command has transferred several exhausted units to Kherson Oblast so that they can rest there.

(cpf)