Ukraine has broken through major Russian lines of defense in its southeastern region as part of Kyiv's counteroffensive.
It has been reported that Ukrainian forces have moved deeper into the Zaporizhzhia region after securing a major foothold behind Russian lines towards the towns of Verbove and Novoprokopivka.
Ukrainian military officials reported Wednesday (August 30) that troops have succeeded in a march toward both towns, strengthening their positions and bombarding Russian ones with artillery.
They have also reported they might have penetrated through the first line of Russian defense, which many call the "Surovikin Line" after the infamous Russian general Sergei "Armageddon" Surovikin who ordered the construction of the defensive positions.
Ukrainians Have More Defenses to Crack
Institute for the Study of War Russia analyst George Barros told The Hill that while the Ukrainian gains were significant, it does not mean the Surovikin Line has been fully breached.
"Ukrainian forces very well may have breached it, but we need more evidence," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Meanwhile, popular Russian military blogger Rybar confirmed on Telegram that Ukrainian forces are advancing toward Verbove and intend to "concentrate its efforts on enveloping Verbove from the west and reaching the flank of Russian troops to block supply routes in the village."
However, another popular Russian military blogger publishing under the Telegram channel Voenkor Kotenok said there has not been a breakthrough in Verbove and Ukraine was "suffering heavy losses in men and equipment."
The counteroffensive was one of many things Ukraine has been dealing with Russia, as a massive drone strike on Russian soil has been reported this week.
Despite this, Ukrainian forces have reported they have only lost five of its 71 Leopard 2 during the counteroffensive.
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Picking Up the Pace
On the other hand, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar explained troops south from Verbove were making progress toward the direction of Novoprokopivka as compensation for the first few weeks the counteroffensive had been slow and sluggish.
The main objectives of the counteroffensive were to take the town of Tokmak and, further south, the city of Melitopol, which would be vital in cutting off the land bridge connecting mainland Russia to the Crimean Peninsula.
For these gains, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told naysayers of the counteroffensive Thursday (August 31) to "shut up" and come to Ukraine to fight with those on the frontlines.
"Criticizing the slowness of the counteroffensive amounts to spitting in the face of the Ukrainian soldiers who have sacrificed their lives," he told EU foreign ministers in Spain. "I suggest everyone who criticizes [us] to shut up, come to Ukraine, and try to free up a square centimeter on your own."
Kuleba was in Spain to ask for more munitions, armored vehicles, long-range missiles, and anti-aircraft systems, Euro News reported.
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