Ukraine’s counteroffensive is less effective than Kiev had hoped, and Ukraine has to accept the fact that it will not achieve the main objectives it has set for itself. According to US intelligence, reaching the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol is nearly impossible, although the Ukrainian army is able to recapture closer sites such as Tokmak. This was disclosed by the Washington Post, which quoted “people familiar with a secret estimate.”
Melitopol is strategically located for Moscow, at the junction of two major highways and a railway line used by the Russians to transport troops and supplies from Crimea to other occupied areas in Southern Ukraine. Thus, it is clear that the reconquest of Melitopol by Kiev represented one of the main targets of the offensive. But the US newspaper, citing “secret” assessments of the services, writes that “Ukrainian forces, blocked by minefields, will not be able to reach the southeastern city of Melitopol.” The assessment is based on Vladimir Putin’s ability to defend Russia’s occupied territory through a series of minefields and trenches, and will likely raise questions about how Volodymyr Zelensky’s government and those in Western capitals led a counterattack that saw dozens of billions of dollars. worth of Western weapons and military equipment failed to reach their targets.
According to the intelligence report, Ukrainian forces trying to reach Melitopol from Robotyne, more than 50 miles away, will “stay a few kilometers from the city”. The Washington Post states that US government officials interviewed about the report spoke “on condition that sensitive military operations remain anonymous.” “Russia has three main lines of defense, followed by fortified cities. The question is not only whether Ukraine can pass one or two, but all three, and then have significant forces at its disposal to take Tokmak and go further.” Rob Lee, a military analyst at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told the newspaper that he dismissed criticism from US sources that the outcome of a counterattack with F16 or long-range missiles could have been different. “The problem continues to break through the Russian main line of defense, and there is no evidence that these systems will be a panacea,” they said.
Chief of Staff Mark A. Milley recently stated that “I said a few months ago that this offensive was going to be long and bloody, and it’s just that: long, bloody, slow” and very, very difficult. As for objectives, the general still succeeds in attributing Kiev’s Russian forces. He said: “They suffered many casualties, morale is not at its best.” Ukraine launched its counterattack in early June, hoping to repeat the success it had in the Kharkiv region last fall. But in the first week of the war, the former Soviet country, the United States Bradley combat vehicles, Leopard tanks Despite having a number of recently acquired Western equipment, including 2 German-made vehicles and special mine-clearing vehicles, it suffered heavy losses against Russia’s well-prepared defenses.
Ukraine chose the tactic of reducing casualties on the battlefield and using smaller units to advance in different areas of the front. As a result, Ukraine made incremental gains in several pockets over the summer. Recently, Kiev has allocated more reserves to the front, including Stryker and Challenger units, but has not yet crossed the main line of defense of Russia.
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Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
