Counteroffensive Launched In South But General Warns Of Slow Going

Multiple outlets reporting that Ukrainian forces have launched a major stage of their summer counteroffensive against Russian forces in the south of the country in the Zaporizhzhia oblast. The fog of war is obscuring the extent of the Ukrainian advances, believed to be focused on the village of Robotyne. Russian Defence Ministry spox Igor Konashenkov stated that a "massive" assault by three battalions of Ukrainian troops as well as tanks had been repelled, while Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar states that Ukrainian troops are “gradually advancing” towards the cities of Melitopol and Berdyansk.

• The Ukrainian counteroffensive was launched seven weeks ago, but so far has met effective resistance from Russians who have dug into heavily fortified defensive positions. Speaking to the BBC the officer in charge of Ukraine's counteroffensive in the south, General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, stated that the mine fields and defensive fortifications make it difficult for his forces to advance swiftly.
• BBC: "Gen Tarnavsky says his forces are doing "hard and painstaking work". He says "any defence can be broken but you need patience time and skilful actions [...] Slow or not, the offensive is taking place and it will definitely reach its goal [...] If the offensive were not successful, I wouldn't be talking to [the BBC] now."
• A major breakthrough by Ukrainian forces would come as a major concern for Russia. Should Ukrainian forces reach the Black Sea, it could see large numbers of Russian troops in the Kherson oblast and Crimea cut off following the damage inflicted on the Kerch bridge linking Crimea to the Russian mainland.

Map of Ukrainian Counteroffensive

Source: Institute for War, WaPo