NYT named the direction in which the Armed Forces of Ukraine can launch a counteroffensive
The most likely direction of the new counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is Melitopol in the Zaporozhye region. This is reported by The New York Times.
It is noted that Ukraine has limited prospects for advancement in the Donbass, where Russia has fortified positions and established supply lines since 2014. In order to advance somewhere, the Ukrainian military needs to hold back the offensive of the invaders and save troops and equipment.
In this regard, analysts believe that the most promising direction for Ukraine's counteroffensive is in the south. There, a significant part of the occupied territories is within the range of HIMARS missiles, which is why the invaders moved their ammunition depots, command centers and other important supplies further from the front line.
Under such conditions, Melitopol looks like an obvious target for the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, the city is located at the intersection of two major highways and an important railway line. This makes it critical for supplying Russian troops in the south.
According to the publication, if Ukraine can split Russian forces, this will significantly weaken Russia's control over the Kherson region. Without supplies from the east, Russian reinforcements can only arrive via Crimea. However, this is much longer, and the supply route is within the range of HIMARS missiles.
Despite this, it will be difficult for the Armed Forces to move forward. The Russian Federation has built defenses along the entire front line, and its densest network of trenches and anti-tank traps is located precisely around Melitopol.
«Therefore, Kiev hopes that the West will quickly provide longer-range artillery that will allow his forces to once again raise the position of Russia, as was the case when the Armed Forces of Ukraine recaptured part of the south, including Kherson, in November 2022. This time, Ukraine wants to make Russia guess where and when it can strike», the NYT summed up.
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