Post by pieter on Jun 13, 2023 8:19:31 GMT -7
Large columns of Western tanks appear at the front: "Looks like Ukrainian main offensive has started"
It seems that Ukraine's counter-offensive against Russia has now really begun. Various American media write this based on sources within the Ukrainian army. Jan Balliauw, Russia expert at VRT NWS, also notes that the fighting that has taken place in the past 24 hours is "of a different order" than before. "For the first time, large Ukrainian columns appear at the front, including Western Leopard II tanks," he notes.
Nils Schillewaert (Flemish Belgian journalist)
Thu 08 Jun 20:01
The Ukrainian counter-offensive against Russia has begun. At least that is what American media write based on anonymous sources. A high-ranking Ukrainian officer and a soldier at the front reportedly confirmed the news to NBC News.
Jan Balliauw, Russia expert at VRT NWS, also notes that more and more signals are emerging that the announced counter-offensive has started.
On Monday, the Russians already announced the start of the counteroffensive. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian army had repelled several large-scale attacks south of Donetsk. "Pinpricks", Russia expert at VRT NWS Jan Balliauw calls those actions in "VRT NWS Journaal".
"The fighting that has taken place in the past 24 hours is of a completely different order," says Balliauw, who notes that large Ukrainian columns appear at the front for the first time, including Western Leopard II tanks. "It seems that south of Zaporizhia the main offensive has started," he concludes.
"The Ukrainians probably want to push through to Melitopol, which would cut the land bridge between Crimea and Russia," Balliauw analyzes the Ukrainian troop movements, but he does not exclude that Ukrainian attempts to force a breakthrough will also follow at other places on the front. . "Among other things, to confuse the Russians about what exactly it is about," he adds.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian army says he knows nothing at the Reuters news agency. "I have no information about that and we will not respond to anonymous sources," he said.
Big gamble
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky has long been announcing a large-scale Ukrainian counter-attack. Nevertheless, a major summer offensive was not forthcoming for the time being, for various reasons. Ukraine is counting on Western tanks, among other things, for the offensive, but the delivery of these takes time.
At the moment we still don't know how many of the promised tanks have reached the front yet. The weather has also played tricks on the Ukrainian army in recent months. It was too humid at the front, making it difficult to maneuver military vehicles.
Whether this is effectively the start of a large-scale counter-offensive, and especially whether such a counter-offensive has any chance of success, remains to be seen. "Russia is in a slightly weaker position since the conquest of Bachmut," Balliauw notes. "Since then all offensive operations have stopped. But they have dug in well, so breaking through the Russian lines will not be easy."
Nobody knows what the result will be, but Ukraine is taking a big gamble, says Balliauw. "A lot is at stake: President Zelensky has received a lot of Western equipment to prepare this counter-offensive and must now show that he is also able to force a breakthrough with that new equipment. Western solidarity may be at stake."
Source: VRT NWS (pronounced "VRT News") is the news service of the Flemish Radio and Television Broadcasting Organization in Belgium. The public broadcaster has been using this umbrella brand name since August 22, 2017 for all news and documentaries on TV, radio and online (previously known as VRT News with DeRedactie.be). The core task is laid down in the management agreement between the VRT and the Flemish government. The news service of the VRT realizes its mission in full editorial and operational independence.
The news service is led by a board of editors-in-chief, headed by the general editor-in-chief.
