(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



Ukraine Invasion Day 538: counteroffensive in two sectors plus new RU missile and drone strikes [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-08-14

Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations on at least two sectors of the front on August 14 and reportedly advanced in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area.

Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations on at least two sectors of the front on August 14 and reportedly advanced in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar reported that Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations in the Melitopol (western Zaporizhia Oblast) and Berdyansk (western Donetsk Oblast and eastern Zaporizhia Oblast) directions. [1] Malyar added that Ukrainian forces achieved some unspecified successes south and southeast of Staromayorske (9km southeast of Velyka Novosilka) in the Urozhaine (9km south of Velyka Novosilka) direction. Malyar noted that Ukrainian forces are continuing to advance in Urozhaine, and some Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces control the northern part of the settlement. [2] Alexander Khodakovsky, commander of the “Vostok” battalion defending near Urozhaine, complained that Russian forces are not deploying additional reserves and artillery battalions to the area. [3] Khodakovsky claimed that the “Vostok” battalion is fighting for Urozhaine with all available forces but that the forces operating in the area are exhausted and suffering losses. ISW previously assessed that Russian forces lack available operational reserves that would allow them to carry out rotations or bring in additional reinforcements, and that Russian defensive lines may be brittle. [4] ... Malyar added that Ukrainian forces advanced by three square kilometers in the Bakhmut direction in the past week and liberated 40 square kilometers total since Ukrainian forces began their offensive operations in this direction. [6] www.understandingwar.org/...

x In #Lviv, a hit in a residential building was recorded."There is a fire on the upper floors. People are being evacuated. All services are in place," said Mayor Andriy Sadovy.#ukrainewar #UkraineRussiaWar #ukrainerussianwar#UkraineWarNews pic.twitter.com/ZRpG7dCO2m — Filmy Wojenne/War Movies 🇵🇱🇺🇦 (@elitaultras) August 15, 2023

Key Takeaways: Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations on at least two sectors of the front on August 14 and reportedly advanced in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area.

Crimean occupation authorities are attempting to impose new federal penalties on individuals who publish content revealing the locations and operations of Russian military assets in occupied Crimea, likely in response to Ukraine’s ongoing interdiction campaign.

Russian forces conducted a series of missile and drone strikes targeting Odesa Oblast on the night of August 13 to 14.

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) likely remains unable to fully take control of some Russian private military companies which are affiliated with or receive sponsorship from Russian officials and businessmen.

US officials announced a new $200 million security assistance package for Ukraine on August 14.

Ukrainian forces conducted offensive operations near Kupyansk, along the Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and advanced near Bakhmut.

Russian forces conducted offensive operations near Kupyansk, along the Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and advanced near Kupyansk.

The Russian National Guard (Rosgvardia) continues to form new regiments and appoint prominent Russian ultranationalists to command its units, possibly in an effort to incentivize recruitment.

Russian authorities are removing local officials in occupied territories of Ukraine likely in order to fill openings with preferred candidates in the upcoming regional elections. www.understandingwar.org/…

x ⚡️ WAR IN #UKRAINE - AUG 12



■ Unusually few strikes reported, engagements down

■ Troop losses 500+, equipment below 7-day average

■ Double-digit vehicle & artillery losses

■ Oryx: 42:15 🇷🇺/🇺🇦 added to records & 30-day average rising



📈 https://t.co/xatCgZ2inK pic.twitter.com/a5TA3ttAWb — Ragnar Gudmundsson 🇮🇸🇺🇦 [email protected] (@ragnarbjartur) August 12, 2023

Russian Subordinate Main Effort #1 – Luhansk Oblast (Russian objective: Capture the remainder of Luhansk Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and northern Donetsk Oblast) Russian forces conducted offensive operations near Kupyansk and advanced on August 14. Geolocated footage published on August 13 indicates that Russian forces advanced near Orlianka (22km east of Kupyansk) and Mykolaivka (24km east of Kupyansk). [19] Russian Western Grouping of Forces Spokesperson Sergey Zybinsky claimed that elements of the Russian 6th Combined Arms Army (Western Military District) took control of multiple Ukrainian positions and observation posts near Vilshana (15km northeast of Kupyansk). [20] Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces captured positions and occupied the line from Synkivka (8km northeast of Kupyansk) to Petropavlivka (7km east of Kupyansk), where positional battles are ongoing. [21] One of the milbloggers claimed that Russian forces are currently about 7km from Kupyansk. [22] Former deputy interior minister of the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) Vitaly Kiselev similarly claimed that Russian forces are directly on the outskirts of Kupyansk, but ISW has not observed visual confirmation of these claims. [23] Kiselev claimed that Russian forces are unlikely to capture Kupyansk in the near future due to Ukrainian force composition and defensive preparations in the city. [24] Russian sources claimed that Russian forces conducted offensive operations near Petropavlivka, Synkivka, and Kyslivka (20km southeast of Kupyansk). [25] The Russian MoD claimed that Ukrainian forces conducted unsuccessful attacks near Pershotravneve (21km east of Kupyansk) and Mankivka (about 15km east of Kupyansk). [26] ... Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar reported that Russian forces are increasing the density of mine-explosive barriers along the international border between Kharkiv and Belgorod oblasts, possibly to disrupt further pro-Ukrainian cross border raids. [27] www.understandingwar.org/... Russian Subordinate Main Effort #2 – Donetsk Oblast (Russian Objective: Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast, the claimed territory of Russia’s proxies in Donbas) Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations in the Bakhmut direction and marginally advanced on August 14. Geolocated footage published on August 13 shows that Ukrainian forces made minor advances south of Klishchiivka (7km southwest of Bakhmut) while attacking Russian positions. [36] Some Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces advanced in southern Klishchiivka, while others claimed that Russian forces repelled the attacks. [37] A Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces also conducted a failed attack near Ivanivske (6km west of Bakhmut) on August 13. [38] www.understandingwar.org/... Russian Supporting Effort – Southern Axis (Russian objective: Maintain frontline positions and secure rear areas against Ukrainian strikes) Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area on August 14 and reportedly advanced. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar reported that Ukrainian forces achieved some unspecified successes south and southeast of Staromayorske (9km south of Velyka Novosilka) and in the Urozhaine direction (9km south of Velyka Novosilka). [43] Malyar also reported that Ukrainian forces continue offensive operations in the Berdyansk direction (Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area). [44] The “Vostok” Battalion, which is defending near Urozhaine, claimed that it is deploying personnel to the rear and second or third levels of defense, suggesting that Ukrainian forces may have advanced near Urozhaine. [45] www.understandingwar.org/... Robotyne x Russian positions being hit in southern part of Robotyne. pic.twitter.com/OnefwAobLX — Def Mon (@DefMon3) August 14, 2023 x Daily Ukraine 🗺️map #1post for 14/08/23



Highlights: Russian failed counterattack near Andriivka resulted in 2 T-90M, a T-80, MT-LB and 2x BMP lost



Ukraine's Kozachi Laheri raid ongoing



Potential advances at Robotyne, awaiting clarification



Map: https://t.co/jNogrb24rK pic.twitter.com/giDyt8UXz4 — Ukraine Control Map (@UAControlMap) August 15, 2023

x My latest article at @abcnews explores the challenges of combined arms obstacle breaching in southern #Ukraine, and why mines pose such a significant challenge. A quick thread on some key elements of the piece. 1/12 🧵https://t.co/rg1B4qOLuC — Mick Ryan, AM (@WarintheFuture) August 15, 2023 In military operations, advancing armies must clear minefields, break through wire entanglements, cross anti-tank ditches and destroy strong points. Because ground forces cannot always go around enemy defences like these, a combination of tactics and technology is required to penetrate them. Generally, this includes combined arms forces (infantry, tanks, combat engineers, artillery, electronic warfare, logistics and air support) and their application of breaching doctrine. These operations are the most complex of military operations and demand well-trained and well-led troops. The enemy uses a "covered by observation and fire" tactic: watching and ensuring those who breach the minefield can be brought under fire. [...] Two recent technological developments have widened the gap between the challenge of breaching minefields and existing solutions. The first is that battlefield observation is now pervasive. As described earlier, obstacles need to be covered by "observation and fire". The Ukraine war has seen the development of a meshed civil-military network of sensors, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence. This is unprecedented in ground warfare. It was not a factor when current obstacle-breaching doctrine was developed decades ago. The second development is digitised control of fire support. Long range rockets, artillery, attack helicopters, loitering munitions, and electronic warfare are now synchronised with new-era digitised battle command systems, which are in turn linked to the meshed sensor network. Consequently, where decades ago it may have taken some time for an enemy to detect someone conducting a breach of their obstacles and even longer to bring them under fire, this is now a process that takes a minute or two. Therefore, forces assembling for a combined arms breaching operation can be detected and engaged well before the operation starts. Forces that do get into the breaching operations can similarly be quickly targeted, and often will have scatterable mines fired behind them into the lanes they have cleared in the minefields. www.abc.net.au/...

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/8/14/2187334/-Ukraine-Invasion-Day-538-counteroffensive-in-two-sectors-plus-new-RU-missile-and-drone-strikes

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/

You are viewing proxied material from magical.fish. The copyright of proxied material belongs to its original authors. Any comments or complaints in relation to proxied material should be directed to the original authors of the content concerned. Please see the disclaimer for more details.