- Ukraine’s military advanced in southern Ukraine.
- The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said troops continued counteroffensive operations on at least three sectors of the frontline.
- No F-16s this year, says Ukraine’s air force.
- Ukraine appears to have made another breakthrough this morning, taking the village of Urozhaine.
Ukraine’s military advanced in southern Ukraine and Russian sources have made “premature” claims about the scale of its operations, military analysts said.
In its latest analysis of the conflict, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said troops continued counteroffensive operations on at least three sectors of the frontline, advancing to the west of the southern Zaporizhzhia region and on the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia border. It came as Kyiv also captured the village of Urozhaine in Donetsk in what marked its first major victory in more than two weeks.
The think tank added that Russian sources claim Ukraine has committed its “main reserves” to operations in Zaporizhzhia’s west – but suggestions of “small Ukrainian infantry assaults” don’t align with “the alleged commitment of major elements of Ukraine’s mechanized reserves”. It called the claims “premature”.
Modern F-16 fighter jets won’t form part of Ukraine’s counteroffensive before the end of the year, according to an official. A spokesperson for the country’s air force told Ukrainian television that “it’s already obvious we won’t be able to defend Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets during this autumn and winter”. Kyiv and President Zelenskyy have long called on Western allies to supply the country with US-made jets to bolster its military operations. But a decision on the supply of the planes has yet to be made.
Ukraine appears to have made another breakthrough this morning, taking the village of Urozhaine. The defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke has been giving his on-air analysis of frontline developments. On the frontlines, Ukrainians are making progress, but they’re making progress at a cost. They’re having to bring forward their elite units. There are about five areas along the frontline where things are happening.
One of them has already been seen with a big cloak cage over the top to try to lessen the effect of any drone attacks, loitering, munitions, and so on. It’s not a great look for a tank, but it’s better for the crew inside if you’ve got this big cage over the top.
In Urozhaine, Ukraine looks as if they’ve taken it in the past 36 hours and they’re moving southwards – quite quickly – down the Mokri Yaly river towards Staromlynivka. But before they get to Staromlynivka, they’re going to come across the biggest Russian defences yet. The biggest Russian line is still on its way. That will be a big test for them in the next few days.
(With inputs from agencies)
