Ukrainian forces expand gap in Russian defense line in Zaporizhzhia region

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shared its usual report.

The light infantry of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has advanced to positions behind the anti-tank ditches and anti-tank barriers of the Russian troops’ "dragon's teeth", which make up the current defensive layer of Russian troops before the Ukrainian military offensive in the western part of the Zaporizhzhia region.

At the same time, ISW experts are not yet ready to assess that Ukrainian forces have broken through this Russian defensive level, as there is no heavy equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in these areas.

Geolocated footage released on September 4 shows that Ukrainian forces have advanced to positions located on the border of trees east of Russian anti-tank ditches and dragon's teeth barriers, which are part of a three-level defense directly west of Verbove to southeast of Orikhiv.

Geo-located footage from September 4 shows that Ukrainian light infantry also advanced further into a series of prepared Russian defensive positions along the road leading northwest to Verbove.

Other geolocation footage released on September 4 shows Ukrainian forces advancing toward Russian defensive positions between Robotyne (10 km south of Orikhiv) and Novoprokopivka (13 km south of Orikhiv).

According to the report, the Ukrainian army is expanding the gap it has already made in one Russian defensive line and is reportedly moving more equipment and personnel to the tactical rear of that line.

"Ukrainian forces appear to be making gains in the immediate vicinity of the not-yet-breached Russian defensive layer that runs northwest of Verbove to north of Solodka Balka (20km south of Orikhiv) with infantry assaults and heavy artillery fire on Russian positions further into and south of this layer," the report said.

The Institute for the Study of War added that the deployment of Ukrainian heavy equipment and more significant forces in these areas than ISW has seen so far would indicate both a breakthrough in this Russian defense line and an attempt to expand this breakthrough.

• On Sunday, September 3, the Russian army lost 460 soldiers, 4 tanks and a boat. Ukrainian Defense Forces are advancing in the southern direction, and Russia attacked Ukraine with Shaheds at night on September 4.

• During another day of the war in Ukraine, the Russian army lost another 560 soldiers, 9 tanks, and an air defense system. A total of 29 combat clashes took place at the front