Ukrainian troops broke through in Verbove, leader of the counter-offensive says how Zelensky becomes a political football for the Trumpists

According to the general leading the Ukrainian counter-offensive on the southern front, Ukrainian forces have overcome and broken through Russian positions in the southern village of Verbove.

«On the left flank [bei Verbove] “We have made a breakthrough and are moving forward,” the spokesperson said Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskiy told CNN. But he conceded that troops were making slower progress than expected.

“Not as fast as expected, not like in the films about the Second World War,” said the soldier. “The most important thing is that we do not lose this initiative. And well, not to lose them in practice, with actions.”

The Ukrainians reported their first success in their counter-offensive in early September. At the time, Tarnavsky told the Guardian that after weeks of demining, forces had broken through Russia’s first line of defense at Zaporizhia.

Next destination: Tomak

Tarnavsky now told CNN he believes the big breakthrough in the counteroffensive will come when Ukraine can retake the city of Tokmak, a strategic center for Russia that is the first major target in its battle in the south.

The Russians defended themselves skillfully. But the biggest problem is not the Surovikin line (more on this below).

The general acknowledged that for the counter-offensive to be successful, Ukrainian forces must at least reach the city of Tokmak.

Intense autumn rains can soften the ground and make movement with heavy equipment such as tanks difficult, but Tarnavsky said Ukrainian soldiers moved in small groups and mostly on foot.

Marder infantry fighting vehicle behind the “Surovikin Line”

CNN could not verify either side’s accounts of the fighting. However, analysis of available video footage shows that some Ukrainian units have broken through an important Russian defense line near the village of Verbove.

The military analysts at the American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) mentioned the breakthrough on Friday in their current frontline situation report. The operation also used Western military equipment, including German-supplied Marder infantry fighting vehicles.

Military bloggers shared Telegram videos of the advance on social media platforms. The images show battles with armored military equipment west of the town of Verbowe in Zaporizhia Oblast, i.e. outside the Russian defense lines. According to US military expert Rob Lee, the 82nd Airborne Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out the attack.

The experts found the video clips and identified the vehicles as German Marder infantry fighting vehicles and American Stryker wheeled infantry fighting vehicles.

The Russian invaders built the ‘Surovikin Line’ last winter in preparation for the Ukrainian counter-offensive that has been underway since June. The defense lines consist of extensive minefields, anti-tank barriers known as “dragon’s teeth”, trenches, anti-tank trenches and bunkers.

It is named after the former commander-in-chief of Russian forces in Ukraine, Sergei Surovikin, who has since been deposed. The general is considered the architect of the three-layer defenses, which are hundreds of kilometers long.

Even if the Ukrainians do not yet achieve their stated goal of advancing to the Sea of ​​Azov, further territorial gains will put further pressure on Russian forces. This puts supplies and supply routes within reach of Ukrainian missiles and artillery.

Ukraine’s long-term goal is to break the Russian “land bridge” connecting Russian-occupied territory in the east to annexed Crimea.

Sources

(dsc/t-online)