Ukraine: the Russian army on the offensive on the Southern front, according to kyiv

The Ukrainian army reported “heavy fire” on Monday. by Russian forces near Robotyn, a town of the Zaporizhia region, in the south of the country, recaptured by Ukrainian forces during their counter-offensive last year.

“The enemy made 10 unsuccessful attempts against the positions of the (Ukrainian) defense forces in the Robotyne region. Here the situation is changeable, the enemy is inflicting heavy fire,” said Dmytro Lykhovy, the spokesman Ukrainian military in this area.

According to him, the Ukrainian army repelled attacks carried out “with a significant number of armored vehicles”, but the Russians are now attacking with ” small assault groups in addition to armored vehicles” and an aviation which “operates actively”.

“These attempts at offensive actions are stopped, the (forces) enemies are eliminated on the outskirts of Robotyné”, said General Oleksandr Tarnavsky, commander of the sector.

The Telegram channel DeepState, close to the Ukrainian army, reported on Sunday evening that Russia had managed to break through the Ukrainian defenses in Verbové, a few kilometers east of Robotyné.

< p>According to Rybar, a Telegram channel close to the Russian armed forces, Russia has established a foothold in the southern suburbs of Robotyne.

The AFP was not able, on Monday, to verify this information.

The Russian army advances beyond Avdiivka © AFP – Sylvie HUSSON, Laurence SAUBADU

Robotyne was recaptured from Russian forces in August, which Kiev described as a major success in its counter-offensive against Russian forces.

Russian attacks on this part of the southern front began this weekend as the Russian army captured the town of Avdiïvka, some 150 km northeast of Robotyne, after four months of repeated assaults.

In the Avdiïvka sector, “the Russians are regrouping, they have achieved their tactical objectives” and “they will probably transfer units (from Avdiïvka) to other sectors “, said spokesperson Dmytro Lykhovy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (l) during a visit to a brigade on the front line in the Kupiansk region, February 19, 2024 © Press service of the Ukrainian presidency – Handout

The Russian Ministry of Defense for its part indicated that it had “completely liberated the Avdiivka coking plant”, which borders the north of the city on 340 hectares, and was the last sector held by Ukrainian soldiers before their withdrawal.

The Russian army has also “improved” its positions on the front in the Donetsk region, the ministry added in its daily update, without however mentioning the Robotyné area.

For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited a brigade defending the Kupiansk region, on the northeastern front, where the Russians have also been on the offensive for several months.

Ukraine: positions of military forces © AFP – Valentin RAKOVSKY, Sophie RAMIS, Sylvie HUSSON

Mr. Zelensky notably mentioned “providing the units with equipment, ammunition and other urgent needs”, indicated the presidency, while Ukraine is seriously lacking in weapons and ammunition.

The Ukrainian Air Force also shot down two Russian SU-34 and SU-35 combat planes “which were attacking our positions with guided bombs”, announced the commander in chief of armies of Kiev, General Oleksandr Syrsky.

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