Ukraine’s Counteroffensive Progress: Recapture of Tokmak and Push Towards Crimea

2023-09-23 21:59:38

Near the village of Verbowe in the Zaporizhzhia region, “we have a breakthrough and we are moving forward,” Tarnavskyi said on US television channel CNN on Saturday. Ukraine began its counteroffensive to recapture areas under Russian control in June. The first reports of success were slow to come, but Kiev has recently reported strategic progress, especially in the Zaporizhzhia region.

An important breakthrough would be the recapture of the town of Tokmak, regarding 20 kilometers from the front line, Tarnawsky said. Tokmak came under Moscow’s control at the start of the Russian invasion. Capturing the city would allow the Ukrainian army to push further towards annexed Crimea.

Don’t worry regarding winter

Tarnavsky did not see the approaching winter as an additional factor that might slow Ukraine down in its counteroffensive: “The weather can be a serious obstacle during the advance, but given the way we move forward, mostly without vehicles, I don’t think so that it will greatly influence the counteroffensive.”

In addition to the report of success from the south of the front, the general admitted that the progress of the counteroffensive was slower than hoped. “Not as fast as expected, not like in the films regarding the Second World War,” said Tarnawskyj. But it is important “not to lose this initiative”.

Crimea: Kiev says high-ranking military officials killed

The CNN interview aired a day following the Ukrainian attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters on the annexed Crimean Peninsula. The success of the counteroffensive depends not only on what is happening at the front, but also on “destroying command centers” – that creates “chaos on the battlefield,” said Tarnawskyj. Attacks on Crimea would also raise the morale of Ukrainian soldiers: “It helps us, but it also gives us hope for the future.”

APA/AFP/Planet Labs Pbc A satellite image shows smoke over Sevastopol following the missile attack by Ukraine

The Ukrainian army said on Saturday that senior Russian naval officers were also killed in the attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Crimea the previous day. The shelling hit the building during a meeting of the Russian naval leadership. Dozens of “occupiers” were killed and injured.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet is stationed in the port of Sevastopol. One of the Russian command centers for Moscow’s war once morest Ukraine is located there. From there, the Russian occupation troops in the south of Ukraine are supplied and rocket attacks are carried out.

Moscow: Air defense in action

According to the authorities of the Crimean peninsula, which has been annexed by Russia since 2014, a fire broke out as a result of the Ukrainian rocket attack on Friday. Photos of a cloud of smoke in the sky were shared on social networks and it was suggested that there was a Russian ammunition depot in the affected area. On Friday, the Russian side initially only spoke of falling rocket debris – but ultimately the Ukrainian attack turned out to be far more successful: the projectiles severely damaged the important and symbolic Russian naval building.

New missiles for Ukraine

As US media reports, the USA is now also supplying missiles with longer ranges. This should allow for more pressure in the counteroffensive.

“According to preliminary information, air defense was deployed in Sevastopol,” Moscow-appointed Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvoshayev wrote on Telegram. The Russian side initially named one dead person, but later corrected this information and only spoke of one missing person. The head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, later said in an interview that at least nine Russians were killed and 16 others were injured, including generals. The information provided by both sides might not be independently verified. Budanov refused to say whether Western-made missiles were used in the attack.

New explosions in Sevastopol

Meanwhile, the Moscow-appointed governor of Sevastopol warned on Saturday of a possible renewed rocket fire. The public has been instructed to close windows and stay away from windows, get out of cars and public transport and go to a safe place. Explosions were heard once more in Crimea on Saturday.

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