Ukraine readies to break through Russia’s main defense line – military expert

He told this while speaking live on air of Espreso TV.

"The tactics used by General Zaluzhnyi over the past two months to accomplish the combat mission have led to positive dynamics. I call it a tactic of a creeping offensive. Recently, we have seen a number of our victories, one of the most recent being the liberation of Urozhayne. And then we are moving to the southeast, to Oktiabrske, cutting off Novodonetske. That is, the general direction to the main line of enemy defense - to the area of Staromlynivka. And one of the settlements that will be liberated in the near future is Zavitne Bazhannia," the Ukrainian Armed Forces reserve colonel is convinced.

Roman Svitan added that Ukrainian forces aim to reach the main line of defense of Russian troops near Staromlynivka.

"So this tactic of a creeping offensive is working, although it takes 5-7 times longer than another offensive mechanism that would require aviation. Therefore, this is the only right move, which takes time, but gives a positive result. The Vremiyivka ridge, which is now being cleared by our troops, will allow us to apply some other tactics to break through and enter operational space. Moreover, the directions can be different: to Berdyansk, Yalta (Mariupol region), even along the line to the east, Volnovakha. We are now at the preparatory stage to break through the main enemy defense line," Svitan summarized.

What is known about the Ukrainian counteroffensive

On June 4, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a counteroffensive on the southern frontline, continuing a series of offensives near Bakhmut and in other directions.

On June 11, the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced the liberation of Blahodatne, Neskuchne, and Makarivka settlements, near the border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

On the morning of June 12, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that the Ukrainian state flag was raised again over Storozhove, Donetsk region.

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, 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 25, the Ukrainian Defense Forces drove the Russians out of their positions near Andriivka in the Bakhmut direction, and in the Staromayorske area, they succeeded and are consolidating their positions. The Ukrainian Armed Forces restrained the Russian offensive near Marinka and repelled enemy attacks in other areas.

On July 27, it was reported that Ukrainian soldiers had liberated the village of Staromayorske in Donetsk region.

On July 31, it was reported that during the counteroffensive, the Ukrainian military liberated more than 204 square kilometers of territory in the south, and another 37 square kilometers in the Bakhmut direction.

On August 2, the Defense Forces drove the Russian occupiers out of their positions near Avdiivka in Donetsk region. The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to hold back the Russian offensive at the Kupyansk and Lyman directions.

On August 5, 30 clashes took place between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian troops at the front, and Russia lost 590 soldiers, 5 tanks, and a MLRS. 

On August 6, Budanov assessed the Ukrainian Armed Forces' counteroffensive: the military's advance in the Bakhmut direction is slightly faster than in the south.

As of August 9, it was reported that Ukrainian Defense Forces have taken back over 40,000 square kilometers of our land from the Russian invaders since February 24, 2022.

On August 10, it was reported that the Defense Forces had partial success near Urozhayne and Staromayorske, and were entrenched near Bakhmut.

On August 11, the spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andriy Kovaliov, said that the Armed Forces are conducting offensive operations south of the city of Bakhmut.

On August 14, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Maliar informed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have already liberated 40 square kilometers of territory on the southern flank of the Bakhmut direction

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