Russian military bloggers said Ukrainian forces had managed to breach through defensive lines in places south of Orikhiv, a town around 6 miles north of Roboytne.

It is a sign Kyiv has decided to commit thousands of well-trained troops, previously held back in anticipation for a breakthrough, to the assault.

      • LordOfTheChia@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        Also, one of the sources from the article confirming the geolocation is here:

        https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/ukraine-conflict-updates

        The battlefield geometry around Robotyne, as well as the force composition of the Russian elements defending there, offer important color to speculation surrounding the Ukrainian attack and gains. Geolocated footage from July 27 shows two Ukrainian Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and a T-72 tank either disabled or abandoned about 2.5km due east of Robotyne, which is a point that is about 2.5km south of the current frontline.[7] This geolocated point is beyond the forward-most pre-prepared Russian defensive fortifications in this area, indicating that Ukrainian forces managed to penetrate and drive through tactically challenging defensive positions. This kind of penetration battle will be one of the most difficult things for Ukrainian forces to accomplish in pursuit of deeper penetrations, as ISW has previously assessed. The defensive lines that run further south of Robotyne are likely less well-manned than these forward-most positions, considering that Russian forces have likely had to commit a significant portion of available forces to man the first line of defensive positions that are north and east of Robotyne.

  • Paws@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Hopefully they have completely broken through the first line of defences in that area now. There are more defence lines before they get to Tokmak though. Tokmak itself is fortified as well.

    Without air support, this was always going to be a very difficult counteroffensive. They are doing great work in what must be super challenging circumstances.