The US Department of Defense has described the tactics of the Ukrainian offensive as a miracle, while ISW reports significant successes in certain parts of the frontline. Find out why the Ukrainian army has once again shocked the West and how the Ukrainian counteroffensive is progressing

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The US Department of Defense has assessed Ukraine's counteroffensive. Thus, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said that given the state of the Ukrainian army at the time of the russian invasion, the fact that the Armed Forces forced the occupiers to move to defensive positions was a miracle in itself. 

In addition, the Pentagon believes that Ukraine still critically lacks weapons and equipment to gain a quantitative advantage over russia, but despite the lack of resources, the russian invaders are trapped in some areas of the front.

"So, given all of that, I think it's important to put it in perspective, in terms of the capabilities that they've been able to develop and implement in a very short period of time," Ryder said.

So, how is the Ukrainian offensive developing and what successes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have become known in recent days - read on in the article.

As a reminder, the russian occupiers have recently begun to launch missile attacks on Ukrainian air bases located in the western part of the country. Find out more about the enemy's goals in attacking airfields and why they keep trying to destroy the Ukrainian airbase in Starokonstantinov here.

The situation in the south of Ukraine: Robotyne, Urozhayne, Staromayorske

As of today, it is known that in some southern sections of the frontline, the Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to break through the first line of defense of the russian army and reach the so-called Surovikin line, fortified with "dragon's teeth." However, despite the fact that the spokesperson for the press center of the Southern Defense Forces, Natalia Gumenyuk, confirmed the breakthrough and the successful deployment of the offensive during the telethon, it is unknown where the Ukrainian army has established itself due to the safety of the units that made the breakthrough. 

In addition, the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that the Ukrainian army managed to advance by about 13 kilometers in some areas of the front. At the same time, The New York Times, citing analysts, writes that Ukraine has made "tactically significant" progress in the counteroffensive, and has advanced 16-19 kilometers. The NYT reports that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are advancing westward toward Melitopol and southward through the village of Staromayorske to Berdiansk, as it is one of the most important transportation hubs along the coast.

According to reports from the Ukrainian General Staff, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are making progress in the area of Robotyno, 13 kilometers south of Orikhiv. In addition, russian sources say that russian troops have partially retreated from Urozhayne and occupy only the southern outskirts of the town. This is a strategically important stronghold of the occupiers. Western analysts believe it is critical to gain control of Urozhayne for further advancement.

"If the Ukrainian Defense Forces manage to break through or bypass Urozhayne, Ukrainian troops will be within about 80 kilometers of Berdiansk and Mariupol. With every kilometer of russian-occupied territory recaptured, the Ukrainian Armed Forces put more pressure on russian supply lines," the NYT notes.

Overview of the Deepstate map

Advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Robotyne as of 08/14/23 (Deepstatemap)

Advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Staromayorsk as of 08/14/23 (Deepstatemap)

Advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Urozhayne as of 08/14/23 (Deepstatmap)

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Eastern front: Svatove, Kupyansk, Bakhmut

ISW analysts note that despite the fact that russia is trying to advance in Luhansk and Kharkiv regions, these actions are not aimed at seizing territory, but at distracting Ukrainian forces from the areas of counteroffensive operations. In addition, given the way events are unfolding in the south, russia will be forced to resort to lateral redeployments that will weaken russian positions along the entire front line. At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have enough reserves to rotate and reinforce instead of redeploying units already involved in defense or offense.

"russia's practice of conducting lateral redeployments in key areas of the front is likely to further weaken russian defense lines in the aggregate. This is because both russian and Ukrainian operations reinforce enemy units in certain areas of the front. These lateral reinforcements are likely to interrupt russian offensive and defensive operations in the sectors from which they are withdrawn and threaten the rapid degradation of the forces that the occupiers use as reinforcements," ISW emphasizes.

Front line near Kupiansk and Svatove as of 08/14/23 (Deepstatemap)

"russian lateral redeployments are likely to increase the likelihood that occupation forces will have to retreat to prepared defensive positions without significant support in the event of a Ukrainian breakthrough. Thus, the further degradation of the russian defense forces creates opportunities for any Ukrainian breakthrough to be potentially decisive," ISW analysts conclude.

According to a commentary by Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Malyar at the Military Media Center on August 14, Ukrainian troops liberated about 3 square kilometers near Bakhmut over the past week. Thus, 40 square kilometers have been de-occupied since the beginning of the counteroffensive in the area.

Advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Bakhmut as of 08/14/23 (Deepstatemap)

We believe in the Victory and the Armed Forces!

We remind you! More than 1.5 years into the full-scale war, russian citizens continue to attempt to enter the territory of Ukraine. Find out more about how many russians have managed to get into Ukraine and why they are making this attempt in our previous article.

Photo: NYT

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