Russian forces strengthen third line of defense in Zaporizhzhia region - Melitopol mayor

Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov wrote this. 

"The invaders claim that the counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia region has already failed, but they have begun to strengthen the 'deep rear' and strengthen the defense on the third line," the mayor wrote.

According to him, the enemy is digging new trenches and strengthening defenses near the front line in the Polohy district of the Zaporizhzhia region.

In the city of Tokmak and nearby villages, the Russian troops are occupying houses, deploying new equipment and installing anti-tank "hedgehogs." Also, new recreation centers are being seized on the Azov coast. In Berdyansk, the Russians are setting up a helicopter base at the airfield.

Ukrainian Armed Forces counteroffensive in the south

On June 12, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar 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 Maliar 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.

On September 8, the ISW confirmed the success of the Defence Forces near Bakhmut and in the area of Verbove in Zaporizhzhia. On the same day, it was reported that Ukrainian defenders had tactical gains in the area south of Robotyne.

On September 11, Freedom Legion fighter Kostiantyn Denysov noted that the Defense Forces were gradually pushing through the enemy's defenses in the Zaporizhzhia sector, expanding the front line.

On September 13, the spokesman for the joint press center of the Tavria Defense Forces, Oleksandr Stupun, said that Russians plan to create assault units from former prisoners to capture Robotyne.