Ukrainian troops believe they have broken through the toughest Russian defense line in the south of the country and will now be able to advance faster, a commander who fought in the south told Reuters.

Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June, but well-prepared Russian defensive lines, reinforced with minefields, slowed their advance south toward the Sea of ​​Azov.

Ukrainian troops announced on Wednesday that they had raised the national flag in the village of Robotyne in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, about 10 km south of the front-line town of Orihiv. The Russians have yet to admit that they have lost control of the city.

Ukrainian commander: From now on, we will advance faster

“We’re not stopping there,” said the commander who led some of the troops to Robotain, which goes by the combat nickname “Combat.”

“It’s Berdyansk’s turn, and then others. From the very beginning, I made it clear to my soldiers: our goal is not Robotyn, our goal is the (Azov) Sea.”

Robotyne is located approximately 100 km from Berdyansk, a port on the Sea of ​​Azov, and 85 km from the strategic city of Melitopol.

“We passed the main mined roads. We reach the lines through which we can pass (forward). I am sure that from here we will move forward faster,” Kombat said.

He declared that two houses in Robotyne were still under Russian control: “We are fighting for them, and then we will have full control (of Robotyne).”

Kombat noted that Ukrainian troops have now entered the territory where only groups of “Russian logistical support” are located and where it is expected that it will not be so difficult to break through the Russian defenses.

“We are moving forward to liberate all our territories,” he added.

A big concern of Russian military bloggers

The Institute for the Study of War said in its latest assessment that Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations near Robotyny in western Zaporizhia Oblast on Friday and were reportedly advancing, raising concerns among Russian military bloggers about the state of Russian forces in the area. which does no good. neither from reinforcements nor from the rotation of forces.

The General Staff of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian troops achieved unknown successes on the lines of Novodanilivka-Novopokropivka (5-13 km south of Orichov) and Mala Tokmachka-Ocheretuvate (9-25 km southeast of Orichov).

A prominent Russian military blogger has expressed concern about the ability of battle-weary Russian troops to defend against further Ukrainian attacks near Robotyn, as fighting appears to have shifted south of Robotyn.

The blogger noted that many Russian servicemen fighting under Robotyn have been on the front lines since the start of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, and these units lack advanced reinforcements.

This statement supports ISW’s assessment that Russian forces fighting in western Zaporizhia Oblast have been defending themselves against Ukrainian attacks since the counteroffensive began, without undergoing rotation or receiving significant reinforcements.