2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (June 2023) |
| 2023 Ukrainian Counteroffensive | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Russian invasion of Ukraine | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Ukraine |
 Russia | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
 Russian Armed Forces | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
By 8 June 2023, several sources stated that the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive had begun.[2][3][4][5][6] These efforts were seemingly made in several directions, including in Donetsk Oblast, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and others.[7][8][9]
Background
Following the Kherson and Kharkiv counteroffensives, fighting on the front lines largely stagnated, with fighting mostly concentrated around the city of Bakhmut.[10]
Prelude
In the days prior to the launch of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, the Armed Forces of Ukraine engaged in "shaping operations" to test Russian defences in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.[7][11] On 3 June 2023, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, stated that Ukraine was ready to launch the counteroffensive.[12] The next day, Ukrainian officials called to enforce an "operational silence" in order to not compromise the military operations.[13] The same day as the beginning of the counteroffensive, Russian Armed Forces shelled Kherson, while humanitarian rescuers were still evacuating parts of the city due to flooding caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam.[14][15]
Counteroffensive
June 8
In the early hours of the counteroffensive, the Armed Forces of Ukraine suffered "significant losses" according to US officials and the Russian Ministry of Defence, but seemingly managed to break some lines of defence in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. According to the US officials, the losses are not expected to impact counteroffensive as a whole.[7]
Analysis
The Ukrainian counteroffensive has drawn comparisons to D-Day, with the operation seen as a critical moment in the war.[16][17]
See also
- Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast
- Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast
- 2022 Kherson counteroffensive
- 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive
- Southern Ukraine campaign
References
- ^ "Ukraine launches counteroffensive against Russia". NBC News. June 8, 2023.
- ^ "Live updates: Ukraine launches counteroffensive against Russia". The Washington Post. 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ Schmidt, Samantha (2023-06-08). "Ukrainian military begins counteroffensive to oust Russian occupiers". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ Schmitt, Eric; Kurmanaev, Anatoly; Kramer, Andrew E. (2023-06-08). "U.S. Official Says Ukrainian Attack in South Appears to Be a Main Thrust of Counteroffensive". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ "Ukraine begins counteroffensive against Russia, officials say". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ "Ukraine launches counteroffensive against Russia". NBC News. 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ a b c Sciutto, Jim (2023-06-08). "Ukrainian forces suffer 'stiff resistance' and losses in assault on Russian lines | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ Fornusek, Martin (2023-06-08). "Western media: Ukraine launches counteroffensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ Haq, Nathan Hodge, Sebastian Shukla, Olga Voitovych, Sana Noor (2023-06-05). "Ukrainian offensive is 'taking place in several directions,' says official". CNN. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Why the battle for the small city of Bakhmut is so important to both Russia and Ukraine".
- ^ "How Ukraine is 'shaping' the front ahead of its counteroffensive". Le Monde.fr. 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ "Zelenskiy says Ukraine ready to launch counteroffensive". Reuters. 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ "Ukraine military urges 'silence' ahead of expected counteroffensive". Reuters. 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ "Russia shells Ukrainian city inundated by dam collapse after Zelenskyy visits area". AP News. 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ "Russian forces shell Kherson during flood evacuation: Kyiv". Reuters. 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ "Mick Ryan assesses Ukraine's counter-offensive". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ Ignatius, David (2023-06-06). "Opinion | D-Day dawns for Ukraine". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
