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© Thomson Reuters 2023.Ukraine retakes villages in 'first results' of counterattack: Kyiv
By Tom Balmforth KYIV©2023 GPlusMedia Inc.
89 Comments
TaiwanIsNotChina
Terrorist expulsion is on the way!
Moonraker
Seems like the Russians blew up another dam too. There is no end to their nihilism.
JeffLee
Not bad for the first two days of a counter-offense planned to run into autumn. What did you expect, total capitulation over the weekend?
Thuban
The reality is that in order for the offensive to have been a success, they would have needed to punch through defensive lines and drive an armored column towards the coast.
Grabbing random undefended villages is just for PR and it is not militarily effective because it exposes Ukrainian forces to fire when they are out in the open like that.
Ukraine needs a decisive breakthrough or their offensive will bog down and stall.
UChosePoorly
Thanks for your prediction, JB. How much (if any) of the Ukrainian territory that Russia currently occupies do you see Ukraine recovering?
(full disclosure - I am definitely rooting for Ukrainian to kick the invaders out. Keep pounding, Ukraine!)
falseflagsteve
It’s not going as planned or Mr Zelensky and his ragtag ban of new recruits, mixed with bigoted far right loons. Putin has put some seasoned troops on the frontline now rather than the rabble from last Spring.
it will be a long drawn out war, we need a ceasefire to stop so many innocents and press ganged men from nigh sides from injuries and death.
Antiquesaving
The main line is several kilometers south,
Standard Russian tactic, the advanced line pulls back the artillery located at the first entrenched main line pound the area. Then the Russians counter attack.
This was pointed about by military analysts on all sides only the news doesn't seem to want to point this out.
Jimizo
It never ceases to amaze me how the disinterred and impartial get upset over news like this.
Jimizo
*disinterred
disinterested.
nosuke
Sadly,Russia is winning the war
PTownsend
Putin shows he might have a partial grasp of the obvious by acknowledging that a 'Ukrainian push is underway', but how long until he, the Kremlin and their media come up with the next big lie, which will then be parroted by their various social media warriors here and elsewhere.
Jimizo
I tend to have more sympathy for the invaded rather that the invader.
Maybe it was how I was brought up.
What a moral windbag, eh?
UChosePoorly
Lost in the inhumanity that is this war, it is heartening to see glimpses of compassion here and there, such as these Russian soldiers assisting their wounded comrade. We must not lose our humanity!
https://twitter.com/i/status/1667170055614873604
Eastman
300m to 1500m advance?
will be interesting to know at what costs/I mean burned leopards and other NATO weaponry have gone during last weekend/....
do you call this a success?
2020hindsights
What ol' Jack Burton always says
"We're kicking the enemy out from our native lands. It's the warmest feeling there is. Ukraine is going to win,
How many villages have the Russians taken in the last year? Soledar and Bakhmut. Sure, Bakhmut is a city, but the comparison is stark.
2020hindsights
Eastman
Minimal.
Of course.
Jimizo
Oh, fair enough. It’s just that the following came across as childish, sarcastic and peevish, a bit like a sulky schoolgirl:
Anyway, I stand corrected.
Just a misunderstanding.
2020hindsights
Antiquesaving
So when are the Russians going to counterattack?
Blacklabel
Military advances haven’t been measured in meters probably since World War I.
is 150 meters significant here?
2020hindsights
falseflagsteve
Really? So retaking villages is not part of the plan?
I think we can disregard the bigoted far right loons remark.
Really? They don't seem to be doing so well.
rainyday
By the standards of the Russians, who take almost a year and suffer about 100,000 casualties to take one town, yeah I guess that is a success. Not a high bar to meet, I’ll give you that, but this is what they are being compared to for obvious resons.
2020hindsights
Thuban
What makes you think that they won't do that?
2020hindsights
Blacklabel
Where do you get that number from? It's 300m - 1500m.
And sure it's significant. It's about the same amount of gains that Russia have achieved in the last year.
Jimizo
Give us links to a few.
Antiquesaving
If one looks at the main defensive line of the Russians it is several kilometers south the Russians pulled back to the west side of the river from these villages.
These villages are located in a low lying area with open fields behind them to the east.
The Russians are located on the west side of the river on the high ground from where they can clearly see and target the Ukrainian force.
Even pro Ukrainian military analysts are saying Ukraine has to take the high ground to the west and south.
Only one important city in the area is to the south and even that city is north of the main defensive line.
Last week Russia took 3 similarly small villages to the north eat and no one made a big deal in the west because the analysts understood the Ukrainians held the high ground to the north west and the Russians couldn't advance easily from that point.
Don't fall for the hype, until Ukraine reaches the main entrenched frontline and breaks through that it is nothing important just like last week's Russia advances.
The only real breakthroughs that count are if either side moved through the others fortified first line.
But even then each side has at least 3 levels of defensive lined which both have been digging in and solidly enforcing for months.
After Bakhmut was taken many were speculating Russia would move more west, it didn't for the simple reason Ukraine held the high ground on the other side of the fields and the first Ukrainian frontline was located in that area it would have been suicide to go that way.
Ukraine is now in a similar situation low area and the Only way forward are open fields in direct line of fire from the entrenched Russian frontline or to go against the high ground less fortified Russia positions on the other side of the river from these villages.
Now these are the facts on the ground.
Those here that claim to be ex military etc... Go see the maps check the topographic maps and the entrenched lines of defense make your own conclusions.
2020hindsights
Antiquesaving
And that's what they are doing.
Blacklabel
Because in propaganda anything said is half true at best.
is it impressive?
Blacklabel
Speaking of propaganda…..
2020hindsights
Antiquesaving
You are ignoring the fact that the Ukrainians are primarily advancing on high ground and only encompassing low ground villages once they have cover from high ground troops.
2020hindsights
Blacklabel
And sure it's significant. It's about the same amount of gains that Russia have achieved in the last year.
OK, name the cities and villages that Russia have taken in the last year...
2020hindsights
Blacklabel
Where do you get that number from? It's 300m - 1500m.
Making up numbers is never impressive.
Blacklabel
The propaganda is the made up number so I righteously halved it.
Is that extra 150 meters such a difference?
fine, 300 meters. Feel better?
wallace
Thuban
Because the most important element of that is surprise.
The attackers already tried this last week but were stopped dead in their tracks and were decisively beaten back by the first line of defense.
They couldn't even break through what they assessed as the weakest link in Russia's defense.
Now the element of surprise is lost and there's no momentum whatsoever.
Kiev, as the invading force, is in a really bad situation right now.
No surprise and no momentum and the defenders know that their line can hold.
Yrral
Wallace, Ukrainain has lots of western armor destroyed in this Counterfeit offensive
Eastman
BlacklabelToday 08:15 am JST
Military advances haven’t been measured in meters probably since World War I.
is 150 meters significant here?
Well some believes is a huge success and some burned leopards and other pricey NATO weaponry incl patriot have no big impact at UA success at all....according to other sources heroi are not advancing at all...
wallace
Yrral
How do you know that?
Antiquesaving
If most analysts on both sides are correct.
They won't, at least not until Russia is certain that the main thrust is this area.
The Russians will just continue to shell and bomb the Ukrainian positions.
There are 2 more locations where the possible main thrust could really be and until Russia is sure where they will most likely not launch any full-scale counter.
It has been reported by not fully confirmed that the west has supplied Ukraine with amphibious transport vehicles capable of bringing large tanks across larger expanses of water.
It would be dangerous but the area west of zaporizhia at the widening of the river towards the sea is the least defended but could only be crossed with and amphibious assault.
True, false who knows but Russia is not going to do much until it knows this and the other possible fronts are ruled out as the main attack.
You can find plenty of USA supplied satellite maps and maps made using these images that show where the Russians are entrenched in their first second and third lines.
Interesting but no such information on the Ukrainian entrenched lines The USA doesn't release it.
Jimizo
Kyiv
Blacklabel
I don’t know, but sounds more like they just walked in to an undefended village, held up a flag and then went to social media claiming victory.
so let’s see.
Yrral
Antique, Ukrainain has lost lots of armor,in this Counterfeit Offensive
Antiquesaving
Ah No!
The east side of the river is low ground.
I don't know where you get your information but go look at a topographic map.
The avoid the fields to the east of the villages but the villages are on the east side of the river on the low ground.
Sven Asai
That’s surely not a news for us but more for their own self-confidence. Of course, three villages or a few hundred meters here and there are a joke and insignificant when speaking of ‘results’. Do you even have any imagination, how huge that country is and how many other villages and small settlements they have there?
Yrral
Wallace, Ukrainain loses are on every US wire service,in plain daylight,showing burn off American and western armor
Mr Kipling
These villages are in the initial conflict zone, Ukraine has yet to penetrate the first line of defense. Early days yet and all reports need to be taken with a huge pinch of salt from both sides. Comparing the 9 months to take Bakhmut with the Ukrainian attacks is not very accurate. These are very different methods of attack. The Russians use their overwhelming advantage in artillery and rockets to flatten the area before moving in. The Ukrainians cannot do this as they lack the artillery pieces and rockets. They use fast mobile armoured attacks to break through the Russian defensive lines. So far, it would seem they are not being very successful. The gains they made in the Bakhmut area were retaken within 24 hours. Expect to see fanfare headlines when they take a village but silence when it gets retaken.
BEENHERETOOLONG
Ukraine is doing so great that they had to recruit isis fighters and mercs, special forces from EU and US. to fight
FizzBit
already have a long time ago. Why bother asking. You da playa!
AlternativeOpinion
If the pro Russians are trivializing the news then Ukraine must be doing something right.
2020hindsights
Antiquesaving
You are ignoring the fact that the Ukrainians are primarily advancing on high ground and only encompassing low ground villages once they have cover from high ground troops*Yep. And the Ukrainian army is advancing over the heights on the west side of these villages.
Not sure you get yours from, but you don't seem to know where the Ukrainian troops are advancing.
Sure. Actually the Ukrainians are approaching from both sides, encircling the Russians so that they retreat.
2020hindsights
Blacklabel
Well, it was defended. But Ukrainian forces encircled it, so the Russians ran away.
Blacklabel
Ran away through the encirclement?
2020hindsights
Blacklabel
Sorry, threat of encirclement is more accurate. When you are surrounded on three sides, you run out the 4th side before the jaws close.
Jimizo
Was that the one telling us that the idea of a Russian invasion was all cooked up in the heads of the corporate MSM?
La vie douce
"Yep. And the Ukrainian army is advancing over the heights on the west side of these villages.
Not sure you get yours from, but you don't seem to know where the Ukrainian troops are advancing.
Sure. Actually the Ukrainians are approaching from both sides, encircling the Russians so that they retreat."
If that is the case that would be bad news for the Russians, yes. I have not read any info about Ukranian army approaching from both sides but. Can you provide the link for this information? thanks.
Eastman
Blacklabel
Maybe you are discussing with Tom Balforth who is directly on front and accounting meters of advance?
With 12 comments out of 56/some 21.4%/?
I may close to truth since author may want to defend own narratives?
Since he knows everything?
Blacklabel
Sorry not buying it.
same reaction as you had when Wagner posted on social media them holding flags in Bakhmut saying they controlled it.
You said it proved nothing and meant nothing.
Eastman
La Vie Douce
Sure. Actually the Ukrainians are approaching from both sides, encircling the Russians so that they retreat."
If that is the case that would be bad news for the Russians, yes. I have not read any info about Ukranian army approaching from both sides but. Can you provide the link for this information? thanks.
I am waiting too as did not find any relevant info about some encircling.
2020hindsights
La vie douce
Eastman
Sure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idiRrvnVw48&list=TLPQMTEwNjIwMjOoSgzWSPBf5Q&index=5
Eastman
if it took some days for Kiev forces to advance 1500m wondering how long may take their retreat?
some 5mins?
will we read about it here too?
by checking other relevant sources it seems that Kiev forces are advancing just in media controlled and censored by Kiev regime but reality on ground seems a very different.
2020hindsights
Antiquesaving
Not at all. Show me where he has reported that turned out not to be true. You have his whole channel to show me the evidence. But you won't find any.
Yes, but they are in a blackout period, so their updates don't represent the current state, rather what was true in the past.
I await you proving me wrong with his past videos as evidence.
stormcrow
Killing women and children and destroying cities without any sense of shame or guilt. . . What kind of society does that?! And China is on Russia’s side?! Very sad!
cleo
They are also continuing to shell evacuees from the area around the Dnipro River flooded by the Russian destruction of the dam.
Attacking evacuation boats and rescuers.
Refusing to rescue those in need unless they can show a russian passport.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65869999
No one was being attacked by anyone until the putinpuppet Yanukovych ordered state forces to open fire on citizens protesting against his traitorous refusal to abide by his election promises and agreements approved by the Ukrainian parliament.
Putin first invaded in February 2014, when he illegally seized Crimea, sent his little green men into the Donbas and armed a minority of pro-russian malcontents. Russian-speaking Ukrainians were free to use Russian in all aspects of daily life, including in courts, schools and government institutions. Putin, meanwhile, has signed a bill banning the use of non-russian words in official documents and correspondence, and verbally. And Ukrainian children kidnapped and taken to russia, or trapped in russian-occupied territories, are forced to use russian, study russian curricula and sing the russian national anthem.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/03/01/russian-tech-giant-vk-orders-employees-to-return-from-abroad-a80366
fallaffel
If you say so. You also previously said there was not going to be a Spring Offensive, and later that, although there was one, it already finished last week. I guess this is the sequel.
Antiquesaving
His map updated only a few hours ago.t
htps://deepstatemap.live/en#11/47.7409/36.7912
2020hindsights
Antiquesaving
Yes. With old information.
Haaa Nemui
The most abundantly clear fact is the counter offensive is underway and it’s early days.
Next most abundantly clear fact is how impatient the Russian supporters are.
Antiquesaving
So easy
https://youtu.be/gw1Lq9umjqM
Tittle huge success: claim Ukraine has advanced 16 km!
Note the article above 300 and 1,500 meters.
Your guys claim 1 day ago said 16km which would bring Ukraine right up to the Russian first line of defense.
No one anywhere is claiming that except your YouTube guy.
See I replied.
Oh with facts.
Raw Beer
Oh, they've been at it for over a week. In the first days, they failed miserably so they kept it quiet. They waited for their first small success to announce the start of their counteroffensive.
Eastman
Antiquesaving
16km ,300m or 1500 m are a quiet bit different numbers.
that youtube hoaxer may say next time 1600km...as he likes...
Raw Beer
Liberated? The settlements were "liberated" from the country the people have overwhelmingly voted to join...
Haaa Nemui
No, it doesn’t say that. It says they’ve penetrated a 16 km wide front. Completely different to advancing 16 km.
Raw Beer
Kiev had been doing exactly that since 2014. That is one of the main reasons Russia started their SMO...
Antiquesaving
And they didn't do that either!
Look at Deep state ua, despite the following claim.
Deep state ua is a Ukrainian approved channel, Ukrainian sponsored site, with access to top military, political leaders and has regular interviews with them.
He is pure propaganda but doesn't overly exaggerate like the fake new site provided by the below.
2020hindsights
Antiquesaving
2020hindsights
Today 09:36 am JST
Not at all. Show me where he has reported that turned out not to be true.
Nope. You have a misunderstanding of what he said on the video. He didn't say that they penetrated 16 kilometres, but that the width of the attack was 16kms.
And this is a different attack to the one that this article is talking about.
2020hindsights
Eastman
I would watch the video before making comments, Eastman. He was talking of a different area of Ukraine than this article, and he didn't say that they penetrated 16km. He said the width of the front was 16km.
Go watch it and see how Antiquesaving is mistaken.
Haaa Nemui
Err, if they’ve moved forward, 1500m, 300m, even 5m, then yes, they’ve penetrated the front. But you were trying to disprove the guy with your misreading of the title. I don’t usually like to post about the numbers, because they’re so hard to verify, but you didn’t disprove anything.
2020hindsights
Antiquesaving
No, it doesn’t say that. It says they’ve penetrated a 16 km wide front. Completely different to advancing 16 km.*How many times do I have to tell you that the deep state map is old information.
They don't update with anything that is newer than 2 days ago, because we are in a blackout period. This is by request of Kyiv, so as not to give information to the Russians. This is well known.
Wait 2 days and confirm. Also will you admit that your statement:
is wrong based on the video.
Eastman
2020hindsightsToday 10:05 am JST
Eastman
I would watch the video before making comments, Eastman. He was talking of a different area of Ukraine than this article, and he didn't say that they penetrated 16km. He said the width of the front was 16km.
Go watch it and see how Antiquesaving is mistaken.
WELL its relinking me to some strange site my computer security dislikes...how about tor provide some safe link say from some newsagency as verified fact not some strange unsecure weblink?
La vie douce
2020 hindsights - Sure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idiRrvnVw48&list=TLPQMTEwNjIwMjOoSgzWSPBf5Q&index=5"
Thanks, just watched the video. If that scenario plays out than thats not good for the Russian side. So far nothing in Russian media about this so will be interesting to see how it plays out.
WilliB
I do not believe propaganda from either side, but fundamentally I would like to know what the point of this "counteroffensive" is. Is it to march all the way to the red see and separate Crimea from Russia? Or even to re-occupy Crimea itself? There is no world in which ANY Russian government could accept so an existential threat. If the US and its European followers keep pushing this, we will get nuclear World War 3. It is time to put some responsible leaders in charge and stop this reckless behaviour.
Haaa Nemui
Agree. Start with removing Putin, Kadyrov, Lukashenko.
WilliB
cleo
Russia blowing up its own dam, that is used for water supply to the Crimea and the nuclear plant down stream? That makes as much sense as the claim that Russia blew up its own Nordstream pipeline. (Then again, possibly you believe that too)
WilliB
Haaa Nemui
Why? They are reacting to Nato expansion and the violation of the Minsk agreement, which was supposed to prevent all this. (Both Merkel and Macaron have admitted in recent interviews that they like and never intended to follow up on Minsk. You missed that?)
La vie douce
6 Ukranian naval drone attack on a Russian warship reported by CNN and others . RT version of the story includes a video.
www.rt.com/russia/577854-ukraine-drone-attack-turkstream/
1glenn
Best wishes to the forces of democracy. Crazy Putin should be kicked out of Ukraine.