Estonian intelligence on Ukraine's offensive: Fighting intensifies in Zaporizhzhia Oblast

The Defence Forces of Ukraine are looking for a correct way to apply forces but so far it is too early to talk about whether they will repeat the success of last year’s offensive in Kharkiv Oblast.

Source: European Pravda and ERR with reference to Margo Grosberg, head of the Intelligence Centre of the Defence Forces of Estonia

Grosberg states that at the moment the fighting is ongoing mainly around the city of Bakhmut, but the intensity of fighting has especially increased in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

"Mainly near the settlement of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, but also the fights in the direction from Velyka Novosilka towards Mariupol, which have been ongoing for a week," Grosberg reported.  

Grosberg stressed that the main strike in the counteroffensive has not been launched yet but instead the formation operations are being carried out. The search for the possible points of breach of the Russian defence is ongoing, and from there it will be possible to advance, mobilising the reserves.

"But it is possible that we may not see such a large-scale and huge offensive, like we saw in Kharkiv Oblast last autumn. Frankly speaking, the Russian Federation also has had nine months to prepare. The search for places for such a breach may take a lot of time," he added.

Even though the campaign is not as successful as that of last autumn yet, there are no signs of any serious failures either.

"This offensive operation will certainly be more complex, more multifaceted than on the Kharkiv front in the autumn," he stressed.

It is still unknown on which front Ukraine plans to continue the counteroffensive.

Grosberg estimates that the intensity of combat action will most likely be progressively increasing but this will depend mainly on the level of preparation and combat spirit of the Russian forces.

"Of course, Ukrainians undoubtedly prevail in combat spirit because they are liberating their land," Grosberg concluded.

Earlier, the CNN channel with reference to American top officials reported that the Ukrainian forces had some success after breaching the Russian defence near the city of Bakhmut, but suffered significant losses.

At the same time, sources told CNN that the recent losses of the Ukrainian forces will not affect the planned Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Moreover, the Intelligence Centre of the Defence Forces of Estonia reported that the intensity of combat action in Ukraine has increased significantly, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces are attacking the Russians on several fronts at the same time.

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