(Dan Tri) – Ukrainian forces announced that they had broken through Russian defenses in the South after intensifying their attacks across the Dnipro River, near the city of Kherson.
Ukrainian soldiers (Photo: EPA).
New York Post on October 21, citing information from the Ukrainian army, said that in recent days, the country’s forces have increased attacks on Russian-controlled areas in the South, while stopping the advance.
Ukrainian forces broke through Russian lines after increasing attacks across the Dnipro River, near the city of Kherson, Kherson province in the south.
Russia has not yet commented on the above information.
`Ukraine’s attacks appear to be larger than previous tactical raids,` said a group of experts from the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The Dnipro River is currently considered the dividing line between Ukraine and Russia in Kherson after Moscow withdrew its troops from the west bank last November.
In recent months, Ukrainian forces have continuously tried to cross the river and raid areas controlled by Russia.
Meanwhile, Russian military bloggers said that Ukrainian soldiers managed to cross the river and remained partly on the east bank of the Dnipro River.
Ukraine has sought to breach Russian defenses in the southern provinces of Kherson and Zaporizhia in a counteroffensive campaign that has lasted since June.
On the Eastern front, fighting is fierce at Avdiivka in Donetsk province.
The Ukrainian army said it was facing a new fierce attack from Russia here.
`The enemy is not reducing their efforts to break through our defense lines and surround Avdiivka. The enemy is actively dispatching additional attack units and a large number of armored vehicles, using both aircraft and heavy artillery,` General said.
Mr. Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesman for the southern Ukrainian forces, also confirmed that Russia regularly puts pressure on Avdiivka with raids almost around the clock.
`Russia has never used such a large amount of military equipment and such a large number of troops at the same time,` said Vitalii Barabash, head of the Avdiivka military administration.
ISW commented that the Avdiivka attack shows how Russia is learning lessons and adapting on the battlefield.
According to analyst Ian Matveev, this method of attack shows that Russia is really trying to gain control of the city or at least create the stage for doing so.
The city of Avdiivka is quite close to the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk, only about 23km north and was once an industrial center.
If Russia gains control of Avdiivka, it could push Ukrainian forces away from the entrance to Donetsk and further toward the administrative borders of Donetsk and Lugansk oblasts.
