Russia's Hopes of Thwarting Ukraine's Advance Crushed

The Moscow-aligned information space is reporting Kremlin troop setbacks amid Russian sources suggesting Ukraine has begun its counter-offensive.

Kyiv has not commented on Russian claims that its long-awaited push to retake captured territory has commenced, but milbloggers have reported on Telegram how Ukrainian troops have used tanks and other armored vehicles in the Zaporizhzhia oblast.

On Thursday, milblogger War Gonzo said that a battle had been ongoing during the night in Orekhov-Tokmak, writing that the Ukrainian side had not made significant progress.

However, the post described how on the Donetsk front where Russian troops had conducted assault operations in Maryinka "the Ukrainian garrison held its positions" and managed to advance in the Vodiane area.

Meanwhile, Russian troops attempted a counterattack near Kleshcheevka, southwest of Bakhmut, which was not successful. The Ukrainian army, backed by artillery, "managed to occupy several new positions on the southwestern approaches to the city."

Russian state media war correspondent Alexander Sladkov wrote on Telegram Thursday that, in the Zaporizhzhia direction, "the enemy is moving forward in waves trying to break through our first line of defense."

He said that Russian forces had destroyed Ukrainian personnel and equipment although regarding Bakhmut, "the enemy was also advancing

Its people like you who are so sure of themselves yet are not very smart that get people killed. There is no military solution for Ukraine here...salvage something and move on with your life...this is like a civil war...stakes are to high for Russia to just withdrawal...so no solution for Ukraine unless they destroy Russia which as 10 times the people and are nuclear armed.

Why don’t you people get it...is it so hard? this is not Afghanistan where you inflict enough damage and Russia will withdraw.

There are a few pro Putin here on FR. By a hunch I would say they represent 10% here. It’s way too much. However, within those 10% there are a number of pure Russians working for the Kremlin. They tend to be very vocal, touchy and not so subtle... They are infiltrated and there is nothing we can do about it.

Then there are also some disoriented ones who have chosen to listen to Russian deep-state propaganda in complete disregard for any American news what’s so ever. They say they don’t trust American deep-state news. However they do support Russian deep-state news instead... that’s the Irony.

And lastly (still within those 10%) there are some good patriots. But they are so pissed off with the unnecessary second Irak War (that was partly based on misinformation), and that made them anti-war absolutists. They refuse to perceive that Russia is an expanding creature that is working around the clock against American interests. They refuse to consider that the respect for borders and sovereignty is also an important thing for the Ukrainian people - our allies.

They also forgot that America signed the Budapest Memorandum in 1994 assuring Ukraine of its protection in case Russia would one day attack them...
Russia did attack.... and as a consequence America respected its signature in helping the Ukrainians.

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