17 Aug: Russians Nervous. Ukrainians SET UP 3 BRIDGEHEADS IN 2 DAY BY CROSSING RIVER! | Ukraine War

Day 540: 17 Aug Russians Nervous. Ukrainians SET UP 3 BRIDGEHEADS IN 2 DAY BY CROSSING RIVER | Ukraine War Russia’s overstretched forces lack mechanized reserves to successfully block a Ukrainian beachhead across the Dnipro River. In the past few days, it became clear that the Ukrainian infantry units managed to cross the Dnipro. On the southern part of the 750-mile front line, a bridgehead along the waterway from the recaptured city of Kherson would put Ukrainian forces in a position to consider advancing into Russian-occupied Crimea and split the Russian occupying force. Continuing Russian claims that Ukrainian forces are maintaining a presence on the east bank of the Dnipro River shows concern that Russian forces have established semi-permanent positions along the river. So a conservative assessment of movements in the Kherson oblast leads to visual confirmation of a permanent Ukrainian presence in the eastern part of the region. It seizes the long-term advantage in the region as Ukrainian special forces break through Russian defensive lines and capture or kill some Russian soldiers in a raid along the Dnipro River. Also, Military analysts report that a Ukrainian beachhead could penetrate Russian lines after being reinforced by around 1,000 British-trained marines. The new amphibious Ukrainian combat units could prove to be a formidable force if used to cross the Dnipro River, where at least two small Ukrainian beachheads have already been established. A new front could be used in the Kherson area, where Russian forces have been weakened by redeployments and are not as deep as elsewhere along the 1,000 km front. On the other hand, Russia is also struggling to send reinforcements along the front as Ukraine has made small but significant advances in three other war zones in the south. But a Ukrainian light force of about 100 soldiers has already established a foothold across the Antonovsky bridge south of the city of Kherson and is threatening the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky. Also since last week, another Ukrainian force of similar size has set up a bridgehead 20 km to the east, attacking the Russian-held town of Kozachi Laheri. In response to these attempts by the Ukrainians, UK Defense Intelligence reported that they sent highly skilled VDV airborne troops from the area to Dnipro to defend against Ukrainian advances in Moscow’s Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions and the town of Bakhmut. Thus, there has been an increase in small-scale clashes in recent days along the banks of the lower reaches of the Dnipro River. In the process, Ukrainian forces worked to raid new locations or establish small bridgeheads on the Russian-held eastern bank. It is reported that Ukraine established a third bridgehead at Hola Prystan, west of the Antonovsky bridge, and gave them part of the riverbank on Russian territory. These footholds at Hola Prystan, west of Antonovsky bridge, will be strengthened by the impending arrival of 900 Ukrainian soldiers, who have spent the last six months being trained by the British Royal Marines and Army Commandos. Because British commandos have trained Ukrainian forces in small boat amphibious operations. Ukrainians conducted beach raids using inflatable boats in this training. In addition, the Ukrainian troops participating in the training mastered the use of NLAW anti-tank guns, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, mortars and drones in both day and night amphibious raids. In other words, the Russians will have a very difficult task on the front line extending from Hola Prystan to the west of the Antonovsky bridge. The Russians are increasingly worried about the Ukrainian forces setting up semi-permanent positions along the river because of all these preparatory efforts. If the three bridgeheads at Dnipro could converge and the Kiev forces would move inland to take Oleshky and Kozachi Laheri, this would provide enough room to bring armored vehicles and artillery to Ukraine. This can create enough defended space to later allow a pontoon bridge to be built. However, the area here constitutes a risky area. Because this area will be vulnerable to Russian air and artillery attacks. But if the bridgehead here could be fully controlled by the Ukrainians, the most direct route to the Crimea would open along the front in an area likely to be less mined or sheltered than others. If Crimea is directly attacked, it will have both serious military and political repercussions for the regime of President Vladimir Putin. If the Russians do not object to these bridgeheads, we can be absolutely sure that the Ukrainians will advance. In addition, as we mentioned, 900 British-trained marines will be trained on river crossings, which will make a significant difference. #russia #Ukraine #UkraineWar #russiaukrainewar #news #russiaukrainenews #War society, politics, knowledge, military, international relations