The Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out a series of successful operations on the left bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson direction and gained a foothold in several bridgeheads. Heavy fighting continues on the left bank.
“The enemy is trying to dislodge our soldiers from their positions, which is why they are suffering heavy losses… Almost every day the invaders make from four to 10 such attempts,” reports the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
The situation is very difficult, he says LIGA.net Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ex-speaker of the General Staff Vladislav Seleznev: “The forces are incomparable. When they say that a Ukrainian marine can fight against 10 invaders, this is not an empty metaphor. However, the marine corps holds three bridgeheads.”
The Russians’ interest in the bridgeheads on the left bank came as a surprise, he adds. LIGA.net GUR representative Andrey Chernyak.
What are the tasks of the Ukrainian military on the left bank of the Dnieper – briefly.
We explain complex things in simple words – subscribe to our YouTube
“UNIQUE OPERATION”. HOW THE BRIDGEHEADS WERE FORMED
On November 17, the Marine Corps command officially stated: Ukrainian marines and other units were able to gain a foothold on several bridgeheads on the left bank of the Kherson region.
Reports of Ukrainian defenders seizing positions on the left bank began appearing back in August. However, for a long time this information did not have official confirmation.
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine have repeatedly urged not to rush with reports about the advance of the Defense Forces on the left bank of the Kherson region until official confirmation,” recalls LIGA.net military expert from the Razumkov Center Alexey Melnik. “We can assume that the bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnieper was sufficiently secured from unexpected enemy counterattacks and our forces were securely entrenched there.”
It was the information silence around the activity of the Defense Forces on the left bank that became the key to the successful implementation tasksadds the speaker of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army “South” Sergei Bratchuk.
To form bridgeheads, well-trained people and long, careful planning were needed, he says LIGA.net military expert, reserve major of the National Guard of Ukraine Alexey Getman.
“Before the Marines started working, our sabotage and reconnaissance groups landed there for almost six months,” he says. “They were not going to gain a foothold, they simply kept the enemy in suspense and carried out raids. Therefore, the Russians did not immediately understand that we were forming a bridgehead. They got used to it. to the constant movement of our DRGs.”
Most likely, the Russians perceived the Ukrainian military, who began to create a bridgehead there, as another activity of saboteurs.
The formation of bridgeheads on the left bank really became for the Russians surprise, confirms the representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Andrey Chernyak. The occupiers hoped that with the forces and means that were already there, they would be able to hold these occupied territories.
“Now we see that due to the presence of units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces on the left bank of the Kherson region, the Russians have a certain panic. They are actively regrouping forces and trying to transfer their additional formations there,” says a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate.
During the fighting, the Russian occupiers suffered heavy losses in manpower and equipment. In particular, since the beginning of events on the left bank of the Dnieper, Russia has lost 1,216 soldiers killed and 2,217 wounded.
Now the Ukrainian military is trying to push Russian troops as far as possible from the right bank, note at the General Staff. Sabotage, raid and reconnaissance operations are carried out.
This operation is unique both organizationally and in terms of the complexity of the tasks facing Ukrainian defenders, explains Bratchuk.
“Among these tasks are the fire engagement of enemy positions and their destruction, disruption of logistics routes,” he lists. “Another task is to move the Russian artillery as far as possible so that they shoot less at Kherson. We will not go into more detail. The enemy should not know these plans”
These tasks are accomplished successfully by Marines every day, he says.
“THE RATIO OF POWERS IS ONE TO TEN.” WHAT’S NEXT
Ongoing heavy fighting, noted in the General Staff. According to the Marines involved in these tasks, it is extremely difficult to conduct defensive battles in the floodplains. It is impossible to bury yourself in the ground. Groundwater is close, literally two spade bayonets – water. Plus difficult weather conditions.
Providing constant logistics to Ukrainian defenders is also not easy.
The operation is complex at all stages, Getman clarifies.
“The crossings themselves were quite difficult. The enemy was not 20 kilometers from the shore, he was nearby,” he states. “When you just land on the shore, it doesn’t matter whether there are floodplains there or not, you are under constant fire from the enemy, who has already shot well this area. In the places where our defenders are advancing, the enemy has gained a foothold, in some places even built reinforced concrete structures, it is easier for him to hold the defense.”
The Russians have the opportunity not only to intensively fire at the Armed Forces of Ukraine with all available weapons, but also to attract aviation, says Seleznev.
Despite the complexity, the Ukrainian marines maintain three bridgeheads: in the area of the Antonovsky automobile and Antonovsky railway bridges and in the area of the village of Krynki, notes the ex-speaker of the General Staff.
It is not worth expecting that the Ukrainian army will be able to overcome 80 kilometers and approach the Crimean Isthmus. There is no sustainable logistics between the banks of the Dnieper, so it is not yet possible to transfer enough equipment, air defense systems and artillery to support the Marines.
The strengths of the parties are also incomparable.
“There are about 1,000 of our marines there. The enemy troops are 65,000,” says Seleznev. “It is led by the most conscientious Russian General Teplinsky, who used a small part of his resources to inflict maximum defeat on our forces. In the Krynok region, the Ukrainian defenders, for example, are attacked from three sides. The infantry repels all attacks, but how long the reserves will be enough to hold the defense – not a single living soul can say.”
Further development of the situation will depend on the ability of the Ukrainian defense forces to accumulate resources, the ex-speaker of the General Staff is convinced. And whether European partners will be able to overcome the decrease in the intensity of American support.
“The next Ramstein meeting should take place in the coming days,” says Seleznev. “We’ll see with what results it ends.”
Read also: Briefly | “Blind corner” in the war with Russia. What breakthrough does Ukraine need: three articles by Zaluzhny in a minute
If you notice a spelling error, highlight it with the mouse and press Ctrl+Enter.
Source: liga.net
