War in Ukraine: Ukrainian counteroffensive disrupts Russian forces near Kharkiv

They were waiting for him for months in the Kherson region in the south of the country. But it is in eastern Ukraine, near Kharkiv, that the counterattack of Ukrainian forces is most effective. From Tuesday to Wednesday, he broke through the Russian defense lines and advanced 15 km. Pictures taken by Ukrainians and testimonies from both sides testify to this movement 2,000 km from the front line in one of the least publicized areas.

It seems that the Ukrainians had previously identified the weakness of the Russian defense system in this area and attacked suddenly. The idea seems to be to cut off Izioum’s main supply route. This Ukrainian garrison town, which was captured in March, was used by the Russians as a rear base for their offensive in northern Donbass.

Influential Russian blogger Starche Eddy (half a million subscribers on Telegram) worries that the Ukrainian army “For the moment it is completely outclassed by our command.” (…). Izioum prepares for battle. Now we must wish success to our soldiers, our veterans and our officers. The enemy will strike from the north and south (…), The night will be hot.”

“Extraordinary Courage”

A breakthrough was made near the town of Balaklia, pushing Russian forces to the left bank (northern side) of the Seversky Donets and Serednia Balakliika rivers on September 6. Ukrainian forces allegedly occupied Verbivka (less than 3 km northwest of Balaklia) on September 6. Geotagged images released the same day show Ukrainian infantry east of the city.

Several Russian sources acknowledged the Ukrainian gains, reporting that the Russian army hastily destroyed bridges east of Balaklia to halt the Ukrainian advance. Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in Washington, on the contrary, believe that this destruction testifies to the fact that the Russians were preparing to retreat. Ukrainian assault troops are now advancing towards Kupyansk, another crucial city for resupplying Russian divisions on the offensive in Donbass.

“The enemy started on the Kharkov front [mardi] The attack, which he had been preparing for a long time, judging by the transfer of reserves, struck the main blow in the sector of the city of Balaklia. Igor Girkin (a.k.a. “Strelkov”), a retired colonel and former Russian soldier who led the armed uprising in 2014 in the early months, says on his Telegram channel. Usually less inclined to compliment the Ukrainian military, this ultra-nationalist remark. “The exceptional bravery of the enemy attacks the positions, penetrates them at high speed directly through the armored vehicles, after which [notre] Artillery has lost its ability to hit the enemy very close to our positions.”