Ukrainian Armed Forces plan to bypass Tokmak rather than launching frontal assault

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV. 

Hetman explained, "There won't be any direct attacks on Tokmak; instead, it will be bypassed. It's uncertain how long the encirclement will last, but it could take several weeks."

Russian troops have fortified Tokmak, intending to defend it. However, the primary objective of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' advance in that area is not to liberate Tokmak but to disrupt Russian supply lines.

"The railway runs through there, serving as the main logistical route for the Russians, supplying their forces in the southern regions of Kherson and Crimea. Some supplies might also come across the Crimean Bridge. Hence, the battle isn't about capturing a specific town; it's about controlling the railway," Hetman clarified.

He emphasized that Russian forces are fully aware that being cut off from their supply routes would severely impact their prospects in that region.

• Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of the Tavria operational and strategic group of troops, noted that the most significant breakthrough in this counteroffensive is yet to come. Achieving this goal requires Ukrainian troops to reach Tokmak, which represents the minimum objective of the counteroffensive.

• General Tarnavskyi also mentioned that winter conditions won't hinder the Ukrainian counteroffensive, as most of the combat advances are currently being made on foot.

• Recently, there were reports that the heavy equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully breached the Russian fortifications of the first line near the village of Verbove, Zaporizhzhia region.