Russian forces set minefields on fire to stop Ukrainian counteroffensive

This is reported by The New York Times.

For example, the invading Russian forces are pouring flammable agent on the territories where minefields are located. During the attempts of demining by the Ukrainian military, the Russians drop grenades from drones, causing a sea of fire and explosions. 

According to the marines, the Russian troops are using this tactic to make the already treacherous minefields even more deadly.

It is noted that Russian positions are fortified with minefields and trenches. That is why the Ukrainian army is forced to fight for every house and conduct heavy defense.

Mining makes it necessary to control paved roads; these are the safest routes because mines are easier to spot and remove. The Russians know this and have set up defenses along T0158 road with concrete bunkers for machine gunners. Russian drones keep the roads under constant surveillance, according to the publication. 

In addition, the Russian forces use hundreds of small assault groups, usually consisting of eight to ten soldiers. Each of these groups has a specific task, such as attacking a trench, forested areas, or houses.

According to experts, such tactics of warfare require great effort and risk for both sides of the conflict, but the captured Russian fortifications left over from this offensive can serve Ukrainian troops as a base for planning further operations.

Ukrainian Armed Forces' counteroffensive in the south

On June 12, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Myliar said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had liberated 7 settlements and advanced 6.5 kilometers.

Later, Ukraine's MoD officially confirmed the liberation of the village of Pyatikhatky in Zaporizhzhia region. Units in the Tavria sector advanced up to 7 km.

On June 24, the Ukrainian Defense Forces confirmed the recaptured territories near Krasnohorivka in the Donetsk region, which had been under Russian control since 2014.

Later it became known 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 5, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy established ten military administrations in the Zaporizhzhia region and appointed their heads.

On July 27, the 35th Separate Marine Brigade, together with the 129th Brigade of the Arei Tank Corps, liberated the village of Staromayorske in the Donetsk region.

On July 31, it was reported that during the counteroffensive, the Ukrainian military had liberated more than 204 square kilometers of territory in the south.

On August 4, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Myliar said that the Defense Forces had already broken through the first line of defense in the south and moved to the intermediate line.

On August 16, Maliar reported that the Ukrainian military had completely liberated Urozhayne in the Donetsk region. Defense forces are consolidating their positions.

On August 17, the General Staff reported that Ukrainian troops had succeeded near Urozhayne. Later it became known that the enemy tried to regain the lost position near the settlement in the Donetsk region, but to no avail.

On August 19, British intelligence said that the Defense Forces continued to advance along the Mokri Yaly River in the Donetsk region.

Ukrainian forces advanced north of Robotyne in the western Zaporizhzhia region. According to ISW analysts, this will allow the Ukrainian army to launch an offensive in less mined areas of the Russian defense line and help Ukraine reach the goal faster.

On August 23, the General Staff reported that the Defense Forces were gaining ground on the borders of Novodanylivka and Novoprokopivka in the Zaporizhzhia region.

On August 27, the spokesperson for the Tavria Defense Forces press center, Oleksandr Stupun, said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces were advancing south of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia region to the village of Novoprokopivka.

On August 28, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malliar said that the Ukrainian military had officially liberated the village of Robotyne.

On August 29, the General Staff reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had succeeded in the direction of Novodanylivka-Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia region.

On August 30, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke in France about the success of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the village of Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia region.

The White House said on Friday, September 1, that the United States has seen significant progress by Ukrainian defenders south of Zaporizhzhia over the past 72 hours.