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On August 29, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) launched a counteroffensive in the southern Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv. So far, no significant gains have been achieved. The Russian military continues to deter the enemy advance on the front lines.
Prior to the attacks on the front lines, the AFU launched a massive shelling of Novaya Kakhovka and Berislav in the Kherson region on the night of August 28-29. At least 1 ammunition depot was reportedly destroyed and a barge used for crossing the Dnieper was damaged. In the evening, the AFU began to strike at the Antonovsky Bridge near the city of Kherson, trying to deprive the Russian Armed Forces of the opportunity to transfer reinforcements. The Russian Air Defence Forces are active in the area.
Then the ground forces went on the offensive from several directions. The front line was divided in three maint parts.
In the southern area, the AFU developed the counteroffensive from their positions in Luparevo towards the village of Alexandrovka located on the Black Sea coast. According to Russian military sources, the AFU failed to develop any offensive in the area and were pushed back to their positions. As a result of the operation, they reportedly lost three tanks.
Another offensive was carried out along the Mykolaiv- Kherson road. The AFU attacked from their military positions in the village of Posad-Pokrovsky located on the highway. The offensive was carried out in teo directions. The assault groups headed towards Pravdino and the city of Kherson. So far, the AFU reportedly managed to advance about 10 kilometers and reach the village of Kiselevka. However, the attack was repelled and they were forced to step back towards the village of Soldatskoe. Fierce clashes continue in Pravdino and Soldatskoe.
In the area of the town of Snigerevka, the AFU attempted to advance towards Blagodatnoe located on the road to Mykolaiv, 20 kilometers to the west of Snigerevka. The assault was carried out from the Ukrainian positions in Pervomaiskoe. After the reported loss of two infantry fighting vehicles and a dozen of servicemen, the AFU retreated.
The military operations of the AFU in the southern area were carried out by small assault groups which suffered significant losses in manpower due to heavy response fire by Russian artillery. The counteroffensive along the Black Sea coast was likely aimed at destruction of the Russian military from the main blow inflicted in the areas to the north.
Shelling at the AFU strongholds in the Mykolaiv region:
Another direction of the Ukrainian counteroffensive is the region of Davidov Brod.
The AFU are in control of the village of Andreevka on the left bank of the Ingulets river to the south of Davidov Brod. Heavy clashes have been ongoing in this region as Russian forces attempted to repel the AFU to the right bank of the river and destroy the pontoon bridge in area.
Today, one tank and two infantry battalions of the 36th separate Brigade of the AFU Marines managed to cross the river and attack Russian forces from their positions in Andreevka. The Ukrainian military divided their strike forces. The first assault group cut the road to Blagodatovka and tried to break into the village, but failed. Another assault group managed to advance 5 kilometers to the east and temporarily take control of the small village of Sukhoi Stavok. Later in the evening, Russian forces partially destroyed the armored vehicles of the AFU in Sukhoi Stavok and Ukrainian troops were forced to withdraw to a wooded area on the outskirts.
Another assault group of more than 10 armored vehicles attacked Russian forces in the village of Lozove located 2 kilometers to the north of Andreevka on the left bank of the Ingulets river. So far, they have reportedly succeeded to expand their stronghold on the left bank. The village of Lozove reportedly came under Ukrainian control.
At the same time, the AFU failed to cross the Ingulets River and create a bridgehead near the village of Malaya Alexandrovka located to the north of the town of Davidov Brod. The AFU suffered heavy losses in manpower and equipment.
The AFU are currently reinforcing their positions near Davydov Brod, Blagodatnoye and Vysokopolye. Another breakthrough attempt is expected in the coming hours.
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On the northern front lines, the AFU blockaded the Russian grouping deployed on the southern outskirts of Olgino and Vysokopilya. Russian units are holding the defense in the are, but Ukrainian forces cut the roads to the settlements with heavy artillery fire.
To the east of Visokopilya, the AFU attacked the Russian positions in the area of the villages of Lybimovka and Mirolybovka. They failed to advance. The counter attack was repelled.
So far, the Ukrainian military has managed to achieve only limited success in the Andreevka region, however it is yet to develop the advance to the east. At the same time, the offensive in the steppes will result heavy losses and it may lead to no significant results without any gains on the other front lines.
The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed that the AFU launched a large counter offensive, claiming that it had already resulted in heavy losses:
Today, during the day, on the direct instructions of V. Zelensky, Ukrainian troops attempted to launch an offensive in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions in three directions.
As a result of the active defense of the grouping of Russian troops, the AFU units suffered heavy losses.
During the fighting, 26 Ukrainian tanks, 23 infantry fighting vehicles, 9 other armored combat vehicles were destroyed, 2 Su-25 attack aircraft were shot down. The enemy’s losses in manpower amounted to more than 560 servicemen. Another attempt at offensive actions of the enemy failed miserably.
In turn, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is yet to comment on the military operations on the southern front lines. On August 29, the Ukrainian military only reported some offensive actions of Russian troops near the village of Potemkino.
