The new data was received by the CNN from a senior NATO source.
According to him, Ukraine has not only attacked in the south of Donetsk Region in the past few days, but also conducted “several notable operations and reconnaissance in the southeastern area of Zaporizhzhya, between the southern city of Kherson and the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant”.
There has also been a “significant increase in hostilities” in eastern Ukraine, where the AFU, using ground attacks and artillery strikes, has begun to probe for weaknesses in Russian defences through which to break through.
A European official told CNN that the Ukrainian military “will have to find one or two gaps” through which they can break through and advance, pushing back Russian forces before they can move with greater force.
However, the destruction of the Kakhovka dam could complicate both Ukraine’s military plans – in particular to force the Dnieper and use local bridges and roads – and create a serious humanitarian problem for which the government would have to spend time and resources.
“Anything that may have been planned downstream from the dam probably needs to be re-planned,” the European ambassador to Washington said.
He said the US and the Western intelligence community were still figuring out who was responsible for the dam’s destruction.
The Washington Post’s White House sources also confirm information that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have already launched a counter-offensive.
According to their reports, this took place on Monday – with a strike to the south on several fronts. U.S. officials believe the main purpose of these strikes is to cut off the land corridor to Crimea. Part of Ukraine’s strategy appears to be to attack on several fronts to be able to move forces between them.
