Ukrainian forces stepped up their artillery strikes and ground assaults in a flurry of offensive military activity that by Monday was raging along multiple sectors of the frontline, US and Russian officials said. The American officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the surge in attacks was a possible indication that Kyiv’s long-planned counteroffensive against Russian forces had begun. They based their assessment in part on information from US military satellites, which detected an uptick in action from Ukrainian military positions.
Russia’s defence ministry said Ukraine had attacked on Sunday morning with six mechanised and two tank battalions in southern Donetsk. “The enemy’s goal was to break through our defences,” it said. “The enemy did not achieve its tasks, it had no success. ” Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said Russian assertions were meant to distract attention from losses Moscow is taking around the long-contested eastern city of Bakhmut. In a Telegram post, Maliar said Ukraine was “shifting to offensive actions” in some areas along the frontline but dismissed suggestions this was part of a major operation.
Besides Ukraine-claimed success in Bakhmut, two unverified Russian reports said Ukrainian forces had pushed through Russian defences in two areas, in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Russian bloggers affiliated with the Russian military went further,saying Ukraine had advanced in some areas and that an even stronger attack had begun early Monday morning near the town of Velyka Novosilka.
Buttressing the reports that the counteroffensive may have started, US military analysts said they believed Ukrainian units had begun an initial thrust to determine the position and strength of Russia’s forces. a traditional tactic of the kind the US has been training Ukrainians to undertake. Much is riding on Ukraine’s counteroffensive to reclaim territory lost to Russia and free Ukrainians. Russia now controls at least 18% of internationally recognised Ukrainian territory. Success could help support Kyiv’s push for longer term commitments for additional military aid and security guarantees from the West. It also could strengthen the hand of President Volodymyr Zelensky in any peace talks with Russia.
Russia’s defence ministry said Ukraine had attacked on Sunday morning with six mechanised and two tank battalions in southern Donetsk. “The enemy’s goal was to break through our defences,” it said. “The enemy did not achieve its tasks, it had no success. ” Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said Russian assertions were meant to distract attention from losses Moscow is taking around the long-contested eastern city of Bakhmut. In a Telegram post, Maliar said Ukraine was “shifting to offensive actions” in some areas along the frontline but dismissed suggestions this was part of a major operation.
Besides Ukraine-claimed success in Bakhmut, two unverified Russian reports said Ukrainian forces had pushed through Russian defences in two areas, in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Russian bloggers affiliated with the Russian military went further,saying Ukraine had advanced in some areas and that an even stronger attack had begun early Monday morning near the town of Velyka Novosilka.
Buttressing the reports that the counteroffensive may have started, US military analysts said they believed Ukrainian units had begun an initial thrust to determine the position and strength of Russia’s forces. a traditional tactic of the kind the US has been training Ukrainians to undertake. Much is riding on Ukraine’s counteroffensive to reclaim territory lost to Russia and free Ukrainians. Russia now controls at least 18% of internationally recognised Ukrainian territory. Success could help support Kyiv’s push for longer term commitments for additional military aid and security guarantees from the West. It also could strengthen the hand of President Volodymyr Zelensky in any peace talks with Russia.