AFU advanced on frontlines in Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions, - ISW

The Ukrainian military had some success in the battles with Russian occupiers in the Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions, advancing in these areas of the front.

This was reported by analysts of the Institute for the Study of War in a new report.

On August 15, the Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted counteroffensive operations in at least three frontline areas and reportedly advanced in the Luhansk and the western part of the Zaporizhzhia regions, the report says.

Coordinates published by a Russian "milblogger" on August 15 indicate that the Ukrainian Defense Forces have advanced south of Dibrova (7 km southwest of Kreminna) in the Luhansk region.

Geolocation footage posted on August 14 showed that the AFU had also advanced to Robotyne, and further Russian and Ukrainian reports published on August 15 suggested that the Ukrainian Defense Forces had sent additional counteroffensive brigades to the western part of the Zaporizhzhia region.

Ukrainian Armed Forces Colonel Petro Chernyk stated that the counteroffensive is slowly progressing in the south of the country, as Ukrainian forces have to overcome a three-echelon line of Russian invaders’ defense.

He also noted that Ukrainian counter-battery measures are especially important to prevent enemy artillery from hitting Ukrainian demining equipment.

The ISW noted that the colonel's statements are consistent with previous assessments by the Institute experts that Russia’s “doctrinally sound elastic defense” is slowing Ukrainian forces’ advances in southern Ukraine.

Author – Anastasiya Glotova, 16/08/2023