Ukraine

Ukraine Makes Advances in Country's South

AUG 28 2023·Updated AUG 27

Story

Image credit: Ukraine's Defense Ministry [via Wikimedia Commons]

The Facts

Almost three months into Ukraine's counteroffensive, multiple reports have confirmed that Ukrainian forces have now broken through the first line of Russian defenses in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Business Insider
Speaking to Jordanian media late last week, US Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that Ukrainian progress has been "bloody, long, and slow." However, he added that: "Specifically on the axis of advance that they're attacking on right now, they've attacked through the first main defensive belt."
Business Insider
These Ukrainian gains have largely centered around the Zaporizhzhia village of Robotyne. Though Ukrainian forces claimed to have liberated Robotyne last week, parts of its territory — which remained under Russian artillery fire — were still disputed.
Kyiv Post
On Monday, Ukraine's deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar said that the village was completely liberated and added that the country's forces were advancing further south towards Novodanylivka, Novoprokopivka, Mala Tokmachka, and Ocheretuvate. "These are the fronts where our forces are currently advancing, despite the enemy's fierce resistance," she said.
Ukrainska Pravda
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian commander who'd been fighting in Robotyne told Reuters that they'd broken through what they believed was the most difficult of Russian defensive lines, and that progress will be much quicker going forward. He added that his unit's goal was to reach the Sea of Azov.
Kyiv Post
However, according to reports, Russia has been redeploying some of its most elite fighting units to the Zaporizhzhia front in the past week — including forces from the 76th Guard Air Assault Division — bringing into question whether Ukrainian advances can continue at the same speed.
The Telegraph

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Now that Ukraine has broken through the first line of Russian defenses — the most heavily mined and protected — its progress going forward will be much swifter. Ukrainian forces will keep pushing Russia out of its territory and carry on advancing towards the Sea of Azov.

Kyiv Post

Narrative B

Ukraine has made modest gains, but they have come at the expense of significant losses and equipment. Ukraine is unlikely to drive Russia out of all its territory, and if Kyiv overextends itself in aim of this goal, it may leave itself exposed to a new Russian offensive sweeping through its territory.

Time