In some areas in south, Ukrainian forces reach Russia’s main defense line – military expert Kovalenko

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have already passed it in the south in certain areas, military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko told Espreso.

"What is the first line of defense? This is the supply line - it is the most difficult area of the entire defense. There are maximum minefields there, which hinders the advance of enemy forces. There are also a large number of "secrets" with anti-tank missile systems and trenches. This area is within the range of fire of all artillery potential that is already deployed along the second and partially along the third line of defense," he said.

According to Kovalenko, the first line is the most dangerous part of the entire defense, which aims to slow down, and at best, stop the enemy's advance.

"After the supply line, the main (second) line of defense begins. The main resources (armored personnel carriers, tanks, armored personnel carriers, armored personnel carriers and artillery) and units are concentrated there. The third line of defense is actually the rear line - electronic warfare systems, command posts, control points, headquarters, warehouses, and support facilities are located there. There are also anti-aircraft missile systems that cover the first and second lines from the air. In some areas in the south, the supply line has already been crossed and there is already access to the main line of defense. We have actually broken the entire second line of defense, found the positions of their artillery, air defense systems in the third line of defense, all logistics and warehouses," the expert added.

He also emphasized an important point.

"In June, we not only forced the Russians to use the main forces from the second line of defense reserve in the supply line. We also forced them to use their resources from the Kherson region. Today, we are not using the main strike groups, we are using units of limited functionality and we have been able to do phenomenal things. We not only set up units to destroy their equipment, not only broke through the supply line in some areas, but also forced them to use their main resources and reserves, including from other footholds," Kovalenko concluded.

Ukrainian Armed Forces counter-offensive in the south: a timeline

On June 12, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that the Ukrainian state flag was raised again over Storozhove, Donetsk region. She added that over the past week, the Ukrainian Armed Forces had liberated 7 settlements and advanced 6.5 kilometers.

Later, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated Pyatykhatky, Zaporizhzhia region, and advanced up to 7 km in the Tavria direction.

On June 24, the Ukrainian Defense Forces officially confirmed the liberation of the territories near Krasnohorivka in the Donetsk region, which had been under occupation since 2014.

On June 26, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar also said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had de-occupied the village of Rivnopil, Donetsk region. It is located in the Volnovakha district of the Donetsk region. The Russian army occupied the village in March 2022.

On July 4, it was reported that Ukrainian military forces were advancing on the southern flank around Bakhmut in Donetsk region and in the south.

On the morning of July 5, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Ukrainian Defence Forces were continuing their offensive in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, consolidating their positions, inflicting artillery fire on the identified enemy targets, and carrying out counter-battery operations.

On July 5, Captain Valeriy Shershen, a spokesman for the joint press center of the Tavria Defense Forces, said that the Ukrainian servicemen in the south were holding their positions, conducting mine clearance, regrouping and preparing for further offensive actions.