Ukraine’s counteroffensive: Armed Forces increasing pace after months of slow progress
Ukraine is ramping up its counteroffensive after months of slow progress (Photo: Getty Images)
Ukraine seems to be picking up the pace of its counteroffensive after two months of slow progress on the battlefield, deploying thousands of additional troops on the southern front, CNN reports.
Two American officials informed the media that Ukraine had moved additional forces to the country's southeast, indicating that Kyiv has identified potential weak points in the Russian defensive lines.
Since the operation began in June, Ukrainian forces have maintained many prepared troops, some with more powerful Western weapons. According to one of the American officials, while retaining some combat power in reserve, they have deployed the "main body" of forces involved in the counteroffensive.
These efforts have yielded some results. The counteroffensive breached some aspects of the Russian defensive lines in the southeast, and reserve units moved in to capitalize on the opportunity.
A Russian military official also acknowledged that Ukrainian forces managed to "penetrate" three sections of the first line of defense on the Zaporizhzhia front.
The 47th Ukrainian Brigade, participating in the offensive, confirmed to CNN that they were advancing, stating, "Infantry is moving forward. Artillery is covering. Bradley crews are destroying enemy infantry and their equipment."
Ukrainian Armed Forces counteroffensive
Some of Ukraine's allies have reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) counteroffensive is progressing slower than expected.
The US National Security Council has reported that the Russians had constructed several lines of defense on the occupied territory of Ukraine over many months. That has slowed down the advancement of Ukrainian forces.
However, The New York Times recently stated that the AFU had intensified its offensive in the Zaporizhzhia region. Defenders aim to cut off the "land corridor" to Crimea from the occupiers and liberate Tokmak and Melitopol.
Other Western media outlets have also highlighted that Ukraine has entered a new phase of its offensive and directed additional forces to the front.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hinted at the successes of Ukrainian forces on the front but emphasized that the news will come later.
