Ukraine yet to secure counteroffensive bridgehead across major river in south - army spox

This was reported by the head of the joint coordination press center of Operational Command South, Natalia Humeniuk, who spoke on the air of the national telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Some experts like to juggle certain terms but you should trust only our military. We are not talking about any bridgehead, we are talking about the execution of separate operations, but to this end, OPSEC silence is needed in order to preserve the units involved and to prepare for further deployment in the corresponding positions," Humeniuk emphasized.

She noted that there was a similar situation regarding Ukraine’s counteroffensive effort last fall.

"You should recall a story of our counteroffensive, when it was just unfolding but everyone wanted a spectacular show where the whole army force would rise from their trenches and rush forward. And in fact, it turned out that the counteroffensive consists of several stages and sometimes is not felt at all on the front line. But at that time, the enemy's potential is being decimated deep in the rear, while the counteroffensive effort, as such, is already underway," explained the press officer.

Humeniuk added that currently the most effective work involves counter-battery fire to wipe out enemy artillery.

"Currently, counter-battery combat is the most effective one, and that’s precisely because we are striking their artillery across swaths of land so the enemy is now forced to employ manned aircraft and drones more," Humeniuk said.

She also noted that the enemy has intensified the use of air defense systems in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson operational areas. Warplanes launch guided bombs that easily cover a distance of up to 60 km. At the same time, the enemy aircraft remain outside the reach of Ukraine’s air defense systems.

"That is why they are trying to use KAB bombs in this area for their strikes. But they target civil and agricultural infrastructure, trying to affect the power of the region and its civilian population," Humeniuk added.

"We will wait for the moment when enough territories will be cleared, and then we will talk about the advance of our defense forces," the spokesperson said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on August 20, the enemy shelled Zaporizhzhia region 92 times. A local man was killed and two more people were injured.

Photo: armyinform.com.ua