First Victories Of Bloody Ukrainian Offensive: Military Overview On June 11, 2023

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Since June 4, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have continued their attempts to break through the Russian defense, launching the long-awaited counteroffensive, which Kiev announced months ago.

In recent days, the main direction of the Ukrainian offensive targeted the settlements located to the west, in the area of Orekhov and Kamensky on the banks of the Dnieper River.

According to the Ministry of Defense of Russia, the defending units, air strikes and artillery fire of the Vostok grouping of troops repelled three Ukrainian attacks from the directions of Novodanilovka, Malaya Tokmachka and Novopokrovka over the past day. A column of armored vehicles of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade of the AFU was destroyed near Lukyanovskoye.

Until June 11, the situation on the border of the Zaporozhye region and the DPR remained relatively calm. Over the past day, Russian airstrikes destroyed clusters of manpower and equipment of the 1st separate Brigade of the President of Ukraine, the 110th Territorial Defense Brigade, the 72nd mechanized and 1st tank brigades of the AFU near Novodonetsky, Neskuchnoye, Storozhevoye and the farm “October”.

The total losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in these areas during the day amounted to over 50 Ukrainian servicemen, 11 tanks, including three Leopard, 17 infantry fighting vehicles, 16 armored combat vehicles, four vehicles, a Stormer anti-aircraft missile system combat vehicle manufactured in the UK, as well as the M777 artillery system manufactured in the USA.

However, on the night of June 11, the AFU resumed active offensive operations in the area of Velikaya Novoselka located on the border of the Zaporozhye region and the DPR.

Ukrainian units are trying to advance deep into the Russian defense with flank attacks. The main goal is to cut off the protrusion of the territory controlled by Russia.

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On June 11, the AFU achieved some tactical successes. Ukrainian forces reportedly entered the village of Levadnoe, located 20 kilometers southwest of Velikaya Novoselka. In recent days, the village has been in a gray zone. Also, from their positions there, the AFU attempted to attack Priyutnoye, but failed to expand the zone of their control.

Videos from the front showed the marines of the 336th Marine Brigade of the Baltic Fleet of Russia destroying Ukrainian military columns in the Levadnoe area. The remaining Ukrainian forces were shelled by Russian aircraft.

At the same time, the AFU continued their attempts to advance from the western direction to enter the rear of the Russian grouping. The village of Urozhaynoye is under attack.

The AFU also attacked Russian positions in Neskuchnoe and took control of the village. According to preliminary reports from the front, Russian forces regrouped and launched a counterattack, returning the village under their control. However, by the evening, the Ukrainian control on Neskuchny was again confirmed.

During the day, the soldiers of the 68th Jaeger brigade entered the village of Blagodatnoye, located to the south, where they raised their flag.

The day before, Russian forces had mostly withdrawn from Blagodatnoye, Storozhevoye and Neskuchnoye to avoid encirclement. The incessant fire of the Ukrainian artillery prevented them from strengthening their positions on the first line of defense. Therefore, the main part of Russian forces retreated to more prepared positions. The fortified Russian defense line with minefields and other fortifications is located to the south.

The AFU will have to keep control of the settlements below the Great Novoselka at a great price. These villages are located in the lowlands, and will be actively shelled by Russian artillery.

Thus, having tightened the reserves during a short pause, the Ukrainian military with resumed attempts to eliminate the protruding zone under Russian control south of Velikaya Novoselka. However, without further progress to the south, the long-term defense of these positions is unprofitable. Therefore, control over some settlements may come from one side to the other more than once.

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Another direction of the Ukrainian offensive is the Orekhov-Rabotino front line. On June 11, with the massive support of the artillery, the AFU attacked Rabotino. However, they failed to achieve aby success. Recently, the intensity of hostilities in this area has decreased. Perhaps it is difficult for Western tanks to advance in this uninhabited steppe area after rains. Ukrainian forces are transferring their reserves to the area and regrouping for the next offensive.

The situation also remains tense in the western part of the Zaporozhye region.

To the west of Orekhov, the AFU have been conducting offensive operations since June 7 in the area of Lobkovoye-Zherebyanka-Pyatikhatka.

Another video from the frontlines showed the professional 130 separate reconnaissance battalion of the AFU being in the vanguard of the advancing Ukrainian units. Ukrainian forces on armored vehicles and pickups were preparing to attack Russian positions in the area of Lobkovoye, but they were timely defeated by military personnel from the 429th regiment of the 19th division of the Russian Southern Military District.

Fighting in the area:

The village and the surrounding area are located in a lowland, which makes its defense unprofitable. Lobkovoye has been in the gray zone for several days. The village is under control of Russian artillery fire from the commanding heights. By the evening of June 11, it was reported that the AFU were forced to retreat from the area due to heavy losses.

After another day of heavy fighting, the Ukrainian military managed to achieve the first tactical gains; but they failed to destroy or encircle Russian defense.

The Ukrainian army continues to accumulate forces in the Zaporozhye region. The main large-scale attack is yet to be launched. At the same time, they are yet to reach the main line of Russian located much further south.

The Ukrainian military has already suffered significant losses, and the destroyed Western equipment, burning down in the Ukrainian steppes, has already confirmed that NATO weapons did not play a decisive role in the Ukrainian offensive.

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