According to Russian officials and military bloggers, Ukraine’s military has initiated assaults on Russian occupying forces in the strategically important southern region of Zaporizhzhia.
Reports indicate that Ukrainian troops, supported by tanks, artillery, and drones, are making repeated attempts to advance towards the south of Orikhiv for the second consecutive night.
A high-ranking Ukrainian defense official described the situation as the enemy being engaged in “active defense.”
Several military experts have suggested that Ukraine’s much-awaited counter-offensive is primarily focused on the Zaporizhzhia region. The objective is believed to be regaining control of access to the Sea of Azov, thereby dividing the occupying Russian forces into two separate groups.
This approach aims to not only weaken Russia’s combat capabilities but also eliminate the land bridge to Crimea, the southern peninsula that was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.
Ukraine has been planning its counter-offensive for months, utilizing the time to train its troops and receive advanced military equipment from Western allies.
The government has intentionally provided limited information about its plans, but Ukrainian forces are currently probing Russian positions along various points of the front line, searching for vulnerabilities.
Meanwhile, Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine. Overnight, fresh cruise missile and drone strikes were launched, resulting in falling debris that tragically caused the death of at least one individual in Zhytomyr, located west of the capital Kyiv.
Intense clashes in the southern region Following President Vladimir Putin’s order for a full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia took control of the majority of the Zaporizhzhia region. However, it should be noted that the regional capital, Zaporizhzhia city, remains under Ukrainian control.
The recent escalation of fighting in the area continued throughout the night, with various Russian pro-Kremlin military bloggers reporting on Thursday that Ukraine had resumed its attacks. These reports highlighted the movement of armored personnel carriers and the utilization of drones to direct artillery fire.
Vladimir Rogov, a local official appointed by the Russian-installed administration, stated that Russian troops were holding their positions amid the ongoing “active fighting” towards the city of Tokmak. The city of Tokmak is considered a significant target for Ukraine as it aims to advance towards the Sea of Azov.
Verifying the claims made by both sides is challenging. Earlier on Thursday, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar stated that Russian forces were currently in an “active defense” mode in the Zaporizhzhia region. She also claimed that progress was being made in the vicinity of the eastern city of Bakhmut, which has experienced extensive destruction during months of intense conflict.
The Zaporizhzhia region, which is currently under the control of Russian forces, is notable for housing Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.
Despite the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro river earlier this week, the nuclear power plant is still receiving cooling water from the reservoir. However, this has led to a critical situation as the water levels in the reservoir have significantly decreased, resulting in extensive flooding downstream of the dam.
The emergency situation poses a threat to the region’s water supplies and has raised concerns about the potential spread of cholera, as warned by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Furthermore, the aftermath of the dam’s destruction is predicted to have severe and long-lasting consequences for agriculture in one of Ukraine’s most fertile regions. The impact on agricultural productivity is expected to be significant and may have far-reaching implications.
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