Ukrainian forces have reportedly broken through the Dmytrivka-Marinkasection of the frontline in South Donbas towards Kherson. This was first reported by Eduard Basurin, Donetsk People’s Republic deputy defense minister. Independent sources or evidence from other Donbass towns will have to confirm the possible breakthrough. Any further developments will be updated in this article as they come in.
What is Kherson?
Kherson is a town in south Ukraine only 15 km (9 miles) away from Kherson. Dmytrivka is a village also in south Ukraine only 40 km (24 miles) away from Kherson. The breakthrough could have important implications for the strategic defense of Kherson. The Ukrainian army has launched several big offensives against the republics over the last year with varying degrees of success, but none too close to Kherson.
What happened to Kherson?
Last month, during a high-profile visit to Marinka, Ukrainian President Poroshenko said that he would not let separatists “get any closer” to Kherson. But the Ukrainian army hasn’t had much success lately, even though the president has been trying hard to kill the last pockets of rebels in the area who are still fighting against Kyiv. After months of intense fighting, Ukrainian forces took control of most of Shchastya in mid-June, putting it back under Kyiv’s civil authority.
Even though they have taken back some territory this month, the rebels were able to stop that advance.
Ukrainian forces have been able to push rebels back and have had more success than expected, but they have failed more than they have succeeded.
For example, after the Ukrainian army took Shchastya, Marinki, and Lopaskai in Donbass, Kherson, and Novoazovsk in Ukraine’s southeast, Kiev was forced to shell rebel positions with long-range artillery. This would not have been necessary if the Ukrainians had taken Marinka before Shchastya, but it is essential now that they achieve some victory to help boost the morale of their troops.
Any Ukrainian advance towards Kherson will be a major surprise for the Russian foreign intelligence service as well as anyone else who might have considered this possibility. There may be more to come on this story. The only way to tell is to keep an eye on updates coming through.
Further analyzed…
Ukrainian fire has severely destroyed the Antonivsky Bridge, a crucial link for Russian forces in the city, from the north-western side of the Kherson front.
Following alleged referendums that Kyiv and its Western supporters deemed bogus, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Kherson and Luhansk as being a part of Russia. All four of these regions are not entirely under Russian authority.
Just hours after Mr. Putin’s proclamation on Friday and a sizable concert in Moscow’s Red Square to celebrate the territorial claim, Russia made a military U-turn.
Kyiv has threatened to recover all of the lands that Russia occupied, including the Crimea that Russian forces invaded in 2014.
According to the Russian defense ministry, reservists who were mobilized into the army by Mr. Putin last month are currently receiving extensive military training in the areas of Luhansk and Donetsk that are under Russian control. Although Mr. Putin did not specify a cap, the Kremlin intends to activate approximately 300,000 reserve personnel.
Summary.
Ukrainian forces reportedly break through the Dmytrivka-Marinkasection of the frontline in South Donbass. The breakthrough could have important implications for the strategic defense of Kherson. Independent sources or evidence from other Donbass towns will have to confirm the possible breakthrough.
