The recent attacks near Velika Novosilka (Donetsk region) and the city of Orikhiv (Zaporizhia region) did not result in the liberation of the occupied territories. However, BILD has learned that this was likely not the primary objective of the ground operations.
Several sources within the Ukrainian military circles have informed BILD that the attacks were intended to test the organization of the Russian army’s defensive line. Furthermore, these operations may also serve as a diversionary tactic to conceal the true direction of the counteroffensive.
Nevertheless, military observer Julian Röpke believes that the initial attacks indicate that one should not expect a “victory by the end of the year” as some Ukrainian politicians have suggested. Moreover, it appears that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) will not conduct a large-scale offensive involving new units, but rather distribute them across different parts of the front.
Russia is currently not ready to launch new ground attacks, but over the past 15 months, the Russian Federation’s forces have established the world’s largest defensive infrastructure on the occupied territories. This has allowed Russian troops to inflict heavy losses on the 47th Mechanized Brigade of the AFU, which was advancing near Orikhiv. According to Röpke, the unit likely lost up to 15 tanks and Western-made armored personnel carriers.
At the same time, the expert notes that only two tank companies out of the 75 that Ukraine had prepared for the counteroffensive were involved in the operations near Velika Novosilka and Orikhiv.
As earlier reported Ukraine has lost two Leopard 2 tanks and 13 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) in a single day.
