Before the offensive
In February 2023, the Ukrainians began preparing to take back the Zaporizhzhya area of Ukraine from the Russians. During this time, the Ukranians finally deployed some of the western-trained and equipped brigades that they have been saving up. The Ukrainian general staff have been hoping that this offensive would replicate the successful Kharkov offensive which happened in September of last year.
However the Russians knew about this upcoming offensive, and ever since their failure to protect their northern front in Kharkiv, the Russians have been fortifying their defenses in the Zaporizhzhya front, building 3 main lines of defenses stretching over 600 miles. Those main lines of defenses are filled with multiple fields of mines, tank obstacles, and trenches. They also have relocated most of the precise artillery pieces there.
The Offensive
On the 4th of June, The Ukrainians began their offensive. The Ukrainians launched 2 spear head attacks from the villages of Orikhiv and Novosilka. There were 2 main fronts, one is directed to the city of Melitopol from the town of Orikhiv, a town that has newly trained and equipped mechanized brigades. This includes the famous flagship unit which is the 47th brigade. The other front is directed to the city of Berdyansk from the village of Novosilka, which is handled by Ukrainian marines.
Melitopol Front
On the 8th of June Ukrainian forces launched multiple counter attacks. and on June 9th and 10th Ukrainian made gains south and west of the village of Lobkove. At this time, however, the Ukrainians’ forces, especially the flagship 47th brigade, which was reported to have lost multiple armored vehicles, included multiple American supplied Bradley fighting vehicles and the new German supplied Leopard 2A6.
Somewhere around August, Ukranians reported multiple battle-hardened brigades, which included the 46th airmobile brigade and 82nd Air assault brigade to be relocated from the Bakmut front and came in to reinforce the increasing losses of the offensive and to secure the flanks of the main forces. Thanks to this, the Ukrainians were able to break through the first line of defense and lead them to prepare the capture of the Village of Robotyne.
On the 27 of July, Ukranians reported heavy fighting in the outskirts of the village of Robotyne. This would be the start of some of the heaviest fighting currently in the counter-offensive so far, and on the 23 of August, soldiers from the 47 Brigade hung over a Ukrainian flag on top of the administrative building near the village center in Robotyne, but it was not until the 28th of August that the Ukrainian forces liberated the entire village. Casualty reports of the Ukrainian army in Robotyne have been mixed. However, it is speculated that both sides suffered heavy casualties.
Berdiasnk Front
Meanwhile, on the Berdyansk front, Ukrainian marines have seen much more success. On June 11th, after 4 days of fighting, soldiers of the yhe battalion Arei of the Ukrainian volunteer army were able to liberate the village of Neskuche. Also, on June 11th, the village of Makarivka was liberated by Ukrainian forces.
On July 16th, heavy fighting in the village of Staromaiorske started. This village was uniquely difficult for the Ukrainians because, despite the dry condition of the village, Russian forces were able to make the ground uneven enough that the advancing Ukrainians experienced difficulty in even walking. However despite the challenge Ukrainian forces were able to take the village on the 26th of July this liberation was announced by President Zelensky.
On the 17th of August, Ukranian forces have been reported to be advancing in the “stronghold” cities of Kermenchyk and Staromlynska. However, these advances failed, but on September the 6th, Ukrainian forces were able to break through the defensive line on the Village of Novodonetske where Russian forces temporarily withdrew after Ukrainian bombardment with cluster munition. This is the latest news as of now.
Summary
Many have stated that the Ukrainian counter offensive failed, due to the fact that for the past month Ukrainian armored columns were being destroyed left and right while also suffering major casualties only for a small breakthrough and a village, even with the some successful gains of the Berdiasnk front The Ukrainian High command did not meet its own expectation. Many assume the Ukrainian high command to cut their losses and withdraw however as of right now the Ukrainian counter offensive is still ongoing, and the end seems to be far off.
