- Ukrainian forces make gains in counteroffensive
- Russian missile and drone attacks intensify
- Challenges and casualties in Ukraine’s offensive
Ukraine’s deputy defence minister reports “extremely fierce battles” as Kyiv’s military counteroffensive continues.
Hanna Maliar posted on Telegram that Ukrainian forces had moved near Bakhmut in the east and Zaporizhia in the south.
She admitted, however, that Russian forces were mounting a robust defense in some regions.
Her remarks follow another night of Russian missile and drone assaults on Ukrainian cities.
In recent weeks, Russia has increased its bombardment campaign despite President Vladimir Putin’s admission that his forces are short on missiles and drones. The most recent surge of attacks included a relatively uncommon assault on the Black Sea port city of Odesa.
Kyiv’s long-awaited advance has been in the works for quite some time, and Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of increasing bombardment in recent weeks to detract from the offensive.
Since beginning their counteroffensive, Ukrainian forces have recaptured seven localities and at least 90 square kilometers (35 square miles).
Ms. Maliar wrote on Telegram that Ukrainian forces had advanced around the city of Bakhmut, which had been the site of a protracted and brutal street-by-street battle between Russian and Ukrainian forces.
She said soldiers advanced 200–500 metres towards the city and 300–500 metres in southern Zaporizhia.
She acknowledged, however, that the counteroffensive had already resulted in “extremely fierce battles” as Ukrainian forces attempted to breach well-established Russian defensive lines.
Senior Western officials have cautioned against the notion that Russian forces will “melt away” in response to Ukrainian attacks, adding that Ukraine’s gains have already been “expensive.”
According to sources, “Russian forces generally mounted a strong defense from their well-prepared, fortified positions and were retreating between tactical lines.”
“This’manoeuvre defense approach’ is proving difficult for the Ukrainians and expensive for the attacking forces. So far, the advance has been sluggish,” they remarked, adding that it was too early to determine the efficacy of Ukraine’s offensive.
However, they emphasized that heavy casualties were likely, given that Russia had months to prepare its defensive lines.
“This was never going to be without risk,” they said. “What we are observing is not surprising. It is demanding and will present challenges for Ukrainians. However, they have persisted and advanced after losses. Therefore, the aggregate trajectory is positive.
Both parties have reported increasing enemy casualties that cannot be independently confirmed.
Ukrainian officials reported three deaths in Wednesday night’s Odesa attacks.
In the early morning attacks, which targeted a warehouse and damaged stores, thirteen more people were injured.
The southwest city, which exports grain across the Black Sea, has been targeted by intermittent missile fire during the conflict.
Military leaders said Russia launched 10 missiles and 10 drones overnight, most of which air defences intercepted.
Three KH-22 missiles launched from a Russian cruiser in the Black Sea were intercepted, while the fourth hit Odesa.
The region’s military administration director, Oleg Kiper, said the three victims were food storage warehouse workers.
“There may be people under the rubble,” he continued. Mr. Kiper wrote on Telegram that more civilians were injured after the explosion and “air combat” damaged stores, restaurants, including a McDonald’s, and residential areas.
Ukrainian police said strikes in Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka killed three more people and destroyed scores of homes.
On Tuesday, Russia shelled a van in north-eastern Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of six persons, including four forest workers. According to Ukrainian prosecutors, the assault occurred close to the Russian border, near the village of Seredyna-Buda.
The director of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has postponed a visit to the Zaporizhia nuclear facility.
According to senior Ukrainian officials, Rafael Grossi consented to postpone his trip until conditions were safer. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated on Tuesday that he was “very concerned” that the facility could be caught in the crossfire of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
As a result of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, the adjacent reservoir supplying the plant’s cooling pools has been rendered inaccessible, necessitating access to a site close to the plant for water level checks.
The Moscow state Duma has authorised the defence ministry to hire convicted criminals to fight in Ukraine.
A person who is under investigation for committing a crime, whose case is being heard in court, or who has been convicted but before the verdict takes legal effect will be able to enlist in the military.
The law will exclude those accused of sexual offenses, treason, terrorism, or extremism.
Russia’s latest attempt to evade conscription tries to fill the gaps left by rising casualties.
