Ukraine's armed forces break through first line of Russian defense – General Tarnavskyi
Photo: 47th artillery brigade
In the country's south, Ukrainian defenders have breached the first line and are approaching the second line of defense of the Russian occupiers, with the occupying forces allotting 60% of their time and resources to construct the first line and only 20% to the other two, unaware that the Ukrainian troops had the potential to overcome it.
The commander of the operational-strategic group of troops Tavria, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, stated this in an interview with The Guardian.
As the publication writes, the Ukrainian Defense Forces were blocked by a "huge" minefield of the occupiers for several weeks while infantry sappers slowly cleared the assault path on foot.
"We are now between the first and second defensive lines," the Tavria group leader emphasized.
As Tarnavskyi reported, Ukrainian forces are pressing from both sides of the breach and strengthening their control over the territory captured during the last battles.
"In the center of the offensive, we are now completing the destruction of enemy units that provide cover for the retreat of Russian troops behind their second defensive line," he explained.
Tarnavskyi noted that the Russian troops "just stood and waited for the Ukrainian army," picking off the equipment with shells and drones.
However, the defenders had already overcome this barrier, so the Russians were forced to maneuver, and the Ukrainians returned with their tanks and other armored vehicles, notes The Guardian.
According to Tarnavskyi, a sign that Moscow is feeling the pressure is that it has redeployed troops to the south from the front line in the temporarily occupied part of Ukraine – the Kherson region in the west and Lyman in the northeast, as well as from the territory of the Russian Federation.
"The enemy is pulling up reserves, not only from Ukraine but also from Russia. But sooner or later, the Russians will run out of all the best soldiers. This will give us an impetus to attack more and faster. Everything is ahead of us," the general said.
For reference:
The General Staff reported that Ukraine's Defense Forces continue their offensive on the Melitopol front. Landmines and heavily protected enemy strongholds present a challenge to the Ukrainian defenders.
According to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksii Reznikov, the military Ukraine's armed forces dig up five mines for every square meter planted by the Russians.
In addition, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to powerfully destroy the Russian invaders on the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts.
Ukrainian troops also came into the village of Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region and organized the evacuation of civilians.
Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar noted that the occupying forces are trapped and cannot leave Bakhmut.
Also, Ukrainian soldiers continue to advance successfully on the Melitopol front, particularly in the section Novodanilivka – Novoprokopivka. They are fixed at the achieved boundaries.
It should be noted that on the Melitopol front of the Zaporizhia region, the occupiers are setting fire to minefields to stop the advance of the Ukrainian defenders.
