Defence forces destroy 10 Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group boats in south in a day

The defence forces of Ukraine's south destroyed 10 boats used by Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups carrying 40 Russians and items of military hardware on 18 August.

Source: Ukrinform citing Natalia Humeniuk, Head of the Joint Press Centre for Operational Command Pivden (South), on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast 

Quote: "Our counter-battery operations are quite powerful. As many as 10 enemy boats have been destroyed over the past day. This is an attempt [by Russian forces – ed.] to manoeuvre between the islands.

They [the boats] are almost all civilian vessels, converted into sabotage and reconnaissance groups. 40 occupiers, one large-calibre gun and 5 units of armoured vehicles followed the fate of the 'Russian warship' [a pun based on 'Russian warship, go f*** yourself', the famous reply of a Ukrainian Border Guard when Russians ordered his garrison to surrender].

Details: Humeniuk says that there is still no very noticeable change in the front line in the southern regions, since the defence forces must first ensure the safety of the defenders who will manoeuvre along the left bank.

"Therefore, for the time being, we are still conducting counter-battery operations to clean up all the stocks of such manoeuvring boats, which can still cause damage to our units. Therefore first we destroy them, and then we advance," said Humeniuk.

She said Russian forces put a surface-to-air missile carrier carrying eight Kalibr missiles on duty in the Black Sea on Friday evening. This was probably a diversionary manoeuvre, because the attack took place later to the north, with the Shahed drones launched "somewhere from the Kursk direction," the spokeswoman said.

The night passed very restlessly in the southern regions as the Russians tried to increase their attacks, according to Humeniuk.

Humeniuk said that the Russians "are short of ammunition and have problems with logistics", so they are trying to put pressure on the civilian population.

"Ten settlements in our area of responsibility came under fire over the course of the past 24 hours, some repeatedly. Five people were injured, and one civilian was killed. More than 30 private residences and apartment buildings were damaged or completely destroyed. That is, the enemy is attacking the residential areas quite powerfully and with precision. This is mainly on the right bank of Kherson Oblast, as well as the Ochakiv front," the spokeswoman said.

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