Ukraine’s Relentless Offensive Puts Russian Forces on Edge
Summer Onslaught Continues
Overt Operator
August 10, 2023
In a fierce and relentless counteroffensive, Ukrainian forces have caused chaos and panic among Russian-backed forces near the village of Urozhaine, at the heart of the front line.
The situation has escalated to a point where a leading Russian commander has declared that only the "Lord can protect" his beleaguered soldiers.
The recent clashes have ignited a firestorm on the battlefield, with reports emerging that the Ukrainian troops crossed the Mokri Yali River and launched an aggressive attack on the northern outskirts of Urozhaine. According to Alexander Khodakovsky, commander of the Kremlin-backed “Vostok” Battalion, a part of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), his forces are receiving a "beating from all sides."
Official Russian military channels have insisted that all Ukrainian advances on Urozhaine have been repelled. However, both Khodakovsky and prominent Russian blogger Rybar spoke on Wednesday (August 9) of a continuous onslaught that has caused "pandemonium" among the Russian forces.
Ukraine's recent march towards the Melitopol-Berdyansk line seems to be shaping up as the counter offensive's primary axis of attack. Observers note this offensive strategy as a critical shift that could dramatically alter the dynamics of the conflict.
Khodakovsky, believed to be leading his battalion in defending Urozhaine, paints a grim picture of Russian forces already "tired of crawling along the bottom of the trenches." The continuous assault, he says, has left his soldiers unable to respond effectively.
The intensity of the conflict and the Ukrainian forces' aggressive push has led to a situation where even understanding the positions on the battlefield has become challenging. Khodakovsky describes the situation: "There was information that the enemy managed to push us from some positions … but soon such a pandemonium began that it's impossible to understand who is where at the moment."
The dire situation has led the Russian commander to seek divine intervention, urging, "Pray, Orthodox brothers, for ours - may the Lord protect them."