Ukrainian counteroffensive - ISW reports on Ukrainian troop advancement

On August 14, Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted counteroffensive operations on at least two fronts and reportedly made advances in the border regions of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Maliar stated that soldiers continue counteroffensive operations in the Melitopol (western part of Zaporizhzhia region) and Berdyansk (western part of Donetsk region and eastern part of Zaporizhzhia region) directions.

The Ministry of Defense also added that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have achieved certain successes to the south and southeast of the settlement of Staromykhailivka (9 km southeast of Velyka Novosilka) in the direction of Urozhaine (9 km south of Velyka Novosilka).

Maliar also noted that the soldiers continue to advance in Urozhaine, and some Russian sources have claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces control the northern part of the settlement.

The commander of the "Skhid" battalion of the occupying forces, Oleksandr Khodakovskyi (this group is located near Urozhaine), complained that the Russian forces are not deploying additional reserves and artillery divisions to this area. He also claimed that the "Skhid" battalion is trying to maintain control over Urozhaine "with all available forces," but the forces operating in this area are exhausted and suffering losses.

ISW experts previously assessed that the Russian forces lack available operational reserves, which would allow them to conduct rotations or introduce additional reinforcements, and that the interventionist defensive lines could be "fragile."

Some Russian bloggers claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces continued counteroffensive operations in the area of Robotyne (13 km south of Orikhiv) in the western part of the Zaporizhzhia region and advanced in the southern part of Klishchiivka (7 km southwest of Bakhmut).

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Maliar, added that over the past week, the Ukrainian Armed Forces advanced by 3 square kilometers in the Bakhmut direction and liberated a total of 40 square kilometers since the beginning of offensive actions in this direction.

Key findings:

• The Crimean occupation "authorities" are attempting to impose new federal sanctions on individuals who disclose information revealing the location and operations of Russian military facilities on the annexed peninsula.

• During the night of August 13-14, Russia carried out a series of missile and drone strikes on the Odesa region.

• The Russian Ministry of Defense continues to struggle to fully control certain Russian private military companies, often linked to Russian officials and businessmen or receiving sponsorship from them.

• Official US authorities announced a new aid package of $200 million to Ukraine on August 14.

• Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted offensive operations near Kup'yansk, along the Svatove-Kreminna axis, near Bakhmut, in the border regions of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, and advanced in the area around Bakhmut.

• Russian forces have conducted offensive operations in various regions, including Kup'yansk, the Svatove-Kreminna axis, Bakhmut, the Avdiivka-Donetsk axis, the border area of Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia regions, and the western part of Zaporizhzhia region. They have also advanced in the Kup'yansk area.

• The Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya) continues to establish new regiments and appoint prominent Russian ultranationalists to command these units, possibly in an attempt to stimulate recruitment.

• The Russian authorities are dismissing local "officials" in the occupied territories of Ukraine, presumably to fill vacancies with better candidates for future regional "elections."

Counteroffensive operations by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the south

During this summer, Ukrainian Military Forces have intensified their offensive actions in the southern regions of Ukraine, specifically in the Melitopol and Berdyansk directions in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. Over this period, over 10 settlements have been liberated.

However, the progress of the Defense Forces is being hindered by enemy minefields and a strong defensive line established by the occupiers.

For more detailed information on the development of the counteroffensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces after two months, read RBC-Ukraine article.