Analysts suggest that the Ukrainian counteroffensive is already underway, although Kyiv does not explicitly label it as such. Reports indicate the destruction of Western military equipment in the battles and significant resistance from Russian forces.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Ukrainian forces are conducting counterattacks in the southern region, and the initial results are starting to emerge. As per the statement of a 35-year-old commander from the 21st Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine, who participated in the assault near Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region, the number of opponents exceeded expectations.
He mentioned that his German tank, the Leopard II, managed to destroy Russian infantry, but they were soon replaced by another wave of soldiers, followed by yet another. Reactive grenades flew past, with some bouncing off the tank. The fields were littered with mines, further complicating the situation.
The initial Ukrainian attacks near Orikhiv faced setbacks due to counterfire and encountering a minefield by the armored column. Nonetheless, the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) managed to advance further east, liberating villages near Velika Novosilka.
One of the tank mechanics from the 21st Ukrainian Brigade reported that other tanks sustained significant damage but were successfully evacuated from the battlefield. One soldier was severely wounded while attempting to assist in recovering the damaged Leopard tank.
Military analysts note that the initial lines of Russian defense are intended to hold back the Ukrainian forces long enough for Moscow to determine the location of Kyiv’s main strike and deploy reserves accordingly.
Simultaneously, Kyiv’s objective is to confuse Russian forces regarding the primary point of attack, according to former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Ben Hodges. He believes that such an offensive has not yet been launched.
The article also mentions the potential involvement of hundreds of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles in the main strike of the Ukrainian offensive when it eventually occurs.
The Wall Street Journal also reports on the battle near Orikhiv, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost several “Leopards” and “Bradleys.” Ukrainian soldiers describe a “steel wall” of Russian fortifications built there.
According to a 28-year-old soldier, as soon as their regiment crossed the road past Malaya Tokmachka, the Russians started shelling them with “Grads.” “The fields were mined. Russian helicopters and fighter jets roared overhead,” the soldier said.
The soldier mentioned that one of the “Leopards” was hit and disabled. “They were just waiting for us… They had prepared positions everywhere. It was a steel wall. It was terrifying,” the soldier claimed.
“In the southern part of the Zaporizhzhia region, the flat open fields offer little cover for attacking forces,” the article explains.
Fighters told journalists that the target of the Ukrainian offensive near Orikhiv is the city of Tokmak in the Zaporizhzhia region.
“The plan was to move south towards the city of Tokmak… Two other units will also advance towards Tokmak from different directions,” one of the soldiers stated.
Ukrainian soldiers also mentioned problems with Western military equipment during the counteroffensive in the south. A fighter with the call sign “Finn,” fighting near Velyka Novoselka, explained that due to rain and marshy terrain, the effectiveness of the MaxxPro armored vehicles is compromised.
“They were designed for urban and desert warfare. In our reality, they can go through, but it’s a struggle,” he said.
The second issue is the lack of experience in operating Western equipment within the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to “Finn,” new Ukrainian brigades face insufficient training and a lack of combat experience. “They lose their orientation in stressful situations,” he added.
