Russia's war in Ukraine
Russian and Ukrainian forces reported intense clashes along the borders of the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions -- in Ukraine's east and southeast -- where Kyiv's military has recaptured a string of villages as part of a much-anticipated counteroffensive.
Much of the fighting is south and southwest of the town of Velyka Novosilka, where Ukrainian troops are attempting to push along the narrow Mokri Yaly river, according to multiple accounts. Ukraine on Saturday seized some small villages along the river, according to geolocated video.
A well-known Russian military blogger, Alexander Kots, said the Ukrainians were advancing along the river. He is not a Russian official but is frequently embedded with Russian units.
"They move along both banks .... In some areas [the enemy] was able to gain a foothold on the heights [above the river]. And it will press on with more resources, forcing us to transfer reserves from another area," Kots said on Telegram.
Weather conditions including fog and rain were hindering operations, providing cover for logistics but also preventing planes and drones from taking flight, he added.
Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on Sunday that Kyiv's advances in the area amount to between five and ten kilometers (three to six miles).
Russian forces are trying to repel Ukraine's breakthrough with counterattacks, according to the unofficial Russian Telegram channel, Operatsiya Z.
The channel said Monday that Ukrainian forces were trying to take higher ground to "create conditions for advancing," and assessed that their aim was to advance towards the Russian-occupied hub of Staromlynivka.
Another unofficial Russian Telegram channel, Rybar, said tough battles were taking place after the Ukrainians' capture of the villages of Neskuchne and Blahodatne "following the planned withdrawal of Russian fighters from there."
Rybar claimed that Kyiv's troops suffered huge losses, but added that "across the whole front line the work of sabotage groups is documented along with intense artillery duels."
Russian forces fired a total of 74 barrages against several settlements behind the frontlines over the past 24 hours, according to a military official in Zaporizhzhia.
The Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on the fighting in the area.
Source: CNN
