Military expert names main reason for additional mobilization in Russia

He said this on Espreso TV. 

"The liberation of Robotyne means that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have passed an important point for further advancement. Obviously, we have not yet deployed all of our reserves for offensive actions. This conclusion can be drawn from open sources, because we have not yet seen British Challenger tanks and Polish Rosomak armored personnel carriers on the battlefield. And this is only part of the equipment. Meanwhile, on the Zaporizhzhia front, the Russians have started having problems with their free reserves," explained Kyrychevskyi.

The expert emphasized that the Russian army has serious problems with its reserves in the Zaporizhzhia sector.

"The Ukrainian Armed Forces, despite all the difficulties, can continue to advance in the Zaporizhzhia sector at the same pace. Even with more optimistic forecasts than a few weeks ago. The situation can develop in different scenarios. The Ukrainian army may attack the occupying Russian troops in Tokmak, or bypass it and continue to advance on Melitopol. But the Russians have already begun to have problems with the availability of manpower in this area. That's why the biggest question now is whether the Russians will conduct additional mobilization. Because they have been very uneconomical in their use of artillery and manpower, which puts them in a difficult strategic position in their defense operation in the south," he added.

Ukrainian army’s offensive in Zaporizhzhia region

On August 21, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces were successful near Robotyne and south of Mala Tokmachka in the Zaporizhzhia region.

On August 22, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that the Ukrainian military had succeeded in the direction of Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia region, and were consolidating the lines they had reached. At the same time, the Russian army is relocating its troops and using reserves.

Also on August 22, Ukrainian defenders of the 47th separate mechanized brigade entered the village of Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia region, and organized the evacuation of civilians. Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier Viktor Burlyk reported that the Ukrainian army had entered Robotyne, but that Russian units were still on the outskirts. 

On August 23, soldiers of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade raised a Ukrainian flag with Commander-in-chief Zaluzhnyi's signature in the village of Robotyne in the Melitopol direction.

Later, the Institute for the Study of War noted that the Ukrainian Defense Forces had made further tactically significant gains in the western part of Zaporizhzhia region, and were likely advancing through a complex array of Russian troops’ defensive positions.

On August 28, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry confirmed liberation of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia region. Also, over the past week, the Defense Forces de-occupied 1 square kilometer in the Bakhmut sector.