Ukrainian soldiers make progress in two frontline areas – in the western Zaporizhzhya oblast and south of the fiercely contested city of Bakhmut. This reports The Kyiv Independent with reference to the Institute for the Study of War.
“Ukrainian forces are making tactical advances and are successfully engaging Russian defense forces,” ISW says in its report. Citing geolocated imagery, ISW states that Ukrainian forces have advanced north of Verbove and reached the northwestern edge of the settlement. Verbove is located about 10 kilometers east of Robotyne, which Ukraine recently liberated.
Further reference is made to the US intelligence official Trent Maul. According to his assessment, there is a “realistic possibility” that Ukraine will break through the second and third Russian defense lines by the end of the year.
At the same time, however, the ISW writes: “Trailing lines of Russian defensive positions continue to pose a major challenge to Ukrainian forces and can be strongly held in sections.”
Image: Kremlin.ru, Vladimir Putin (2022-12-16), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (image size modified)
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