2023-09-03 19:53:21
The kyiv army has made a major breakthrough in the Russian defense lines in southern Ukraine, one of its generals has claimed. “We are now between the first and the second line of Russian defence”, says Ukrainian General Oleksandr Tarnavskiy, in charge of the counter-offensive in the South, in an interview published this weekend by the British daily The Guardiana few days following the announcement by kyiv of a symbolic victory with the resumption of the village of Robotyne.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is increasingly vigorously rejecting criticism of the supposed slowness of the counter-offensive launched in June to retake territories conquered by Moscow. “We are now in the process of destroying the enemy units responsible for protecting the Russian troops when they retreat behind their second line of defense,” assured the general, whose troops had liberated the city of Kherson (south) the last year.
Still according to him, the Moscow forces “were simply stationary and waiting for the Ukrainian army” and they have now redeployed in the area. “The enemy is drawing on its reserves, not only in Ukraine but also in Russia. Sooner or later, the Russians will run out of their best soldiers. This will give us an opportunity to attack them more and faster, the general said. Everything is to come”.
A Ukrainian M109 howitzer in action on the front, August 7, 2023.
He also explains that the Ukrainian army was delayed in its counter-offensive because it “spent more time than expected clearing the territories” occupied by the Russians. “Unfortunately, the evacuation of the injured was difficult for us. And that also complicated our progress,” he added, admitting that kyiv had suffered significant losses.
“The closer you get to victory, the more difficult it becomes. For what? Because unfortunately, we are losing the strongest and the best” soldiers, he explained. “Now we have to focus on certain areas and finish the job. No matter how hard it is for each of us.”
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