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Recently, Ukrainian forces struck the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. At least nine people were killed in the violent attack and 16 others were injured.
Nevertheless, the biggest breakthrough in the Ukrainian counteroffensive is yet to come. This is what General Oleksander Tarnawski, who is leading the battle on the southern front, claims in an interview with CNN.
Defensive line at Tokmak in sight
“I think it will come after Tokmak,” Tarnawski said of the breakthrough. Tokmak is a city in the Zaporizhia region of southern Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin’s (70) troops are currently said to rely on the depth of their defense line there.
Only when Ukrainian forces reached the city would the foundation for long-term Ukrainian success be laid. “Tokmak is the minimum target,” says Tarnawski. “Our real goal is to reach our national borders.”
The Surovikin line is not the biggest concern
For a long time, the Surovikin Line was considered the biggest obstacle for the Ukrainians. This defense zone, also called the Surovikin Line after the Russian general, extends across the entire front in the south and east of Ukraine. It is not only protected by concrete dragon’s teeth, but also heavily mined and protected from enemy vehicles with trenches.
However, this line of defense is not the biggest problem right now, Tarnawski says. Instead, Ukrainian forces must fight the “crossroads and minefields between the forest borders.”
“There is a combination of small enemy defense groups that are very precisely and cleverly positioned right now,” Tarnawski said. “But the actions of our fighters are forcing them to slowly withdraw when confronted by our strike teams.”
The Ukrainian troops are weatherproof
With the end of summer, the situation at the front threatens to degenerate into a mud fight. This is likely to be especially problematic for heavy vehicles.
However, Tarnawski is also optimistic about winter: “The weather could be a serious obstacle during the advance, but given how we are moving forward, mostly without vehicles, I don’t think the weather will have a major impact on the counter-offensive. ” (dzc/bab)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
