In Ukraine, events are rushing on the North-East front, in the Kharkiv region, where the army of kyiv is making an impressive breakthrough in the Izium sector. This Saturday morning, the Ukrainian armed forces took control of Kupyansk, a crucial road and rail center for Russian military logistics. And in all likelihood, the Russian offensive is continuing to the south and east, suggesting a collapse of the Russian defense lines between Kharkiv and Donbass.
with our correspondent in kyiv, Stephane Siohan
In less than 72 hours, the Ukrainian army has taken over 2,500 km² of territory and dozens of localities, over a distance of more than 80 kilometres… The advance of the armed forces of kyiv is so rapid that even observers find it difficult to follow, and to the official confirmations are added information on new sectors taken over…
This Saturday morning, there are two pieces of news to remember: the Ukrainian soldiers planted their flag on the town hall of Kupyansk, the logistics center of the Russians in this region, and several Ukrainian and Russian sources announce that the Russian occupiers have left the city of Izioum.
► Read also : Ukraine launches second counter-attack in Izium
Video testimonies are multiplying from the theater of operations: municipalities liberated, armored vehicles destroyed, entire groups of Russian soldiers taken prisoner… Now, the kyiv army seems to be advancing its pawns in the Donetsk region. The town of Lyman is in the crosshairs of the Ukrainian artillery.
With these fights, it is the cards of the Eastern front, which are reshuffled, while waiting to know if the Russian army Is able to counter-attack, or if it will still withdraw further back…
► Read also : The Ukrainian army retakes Balaklia in its counter-offensive in the East
” Ukrainians regain ground »
According to General Jérôme Pellistrandi, of the National Defense Review, joined by Nicolas Falez, of the international service, the progress of the Ukrainian counter-offensive is partly explained by the deliveries of sophisticated armaments. ” Mainly, they are artillery weapons with the famous ‘himars’. These are rocket launchers that can deal with targets that are up to 80 km away. There are Cesar guns delivereds by France. And then the whole chain of intelligence with drones that somehow allow for extremely precise and therefore effective shooting. These tools allow the Ukrainians to regain the initiative on the ground and to force the Russians to put themselves in a defensive position, by hitting what is called the second echelon, that is to say in fact the Russian rear lines, where the logistics depots of fuel, ammunition, command posts are located.
And we can see that the Ukrainian counter-offensives have been well prepared with the use of these weapons which can shoot in depth and which, with very effective targeting and intelligence, make it possible to neutralize the Russian forces and that is what is happening. Obviously, the Ukrainians are regaining ground on their Russian opponents “.