"The Russians Are Breaking Through to Zaporizhzhia!": Kirillov Describes the New Wave of Russian Offensive as "the Beginning of the End"

The defenders of Olekhiv faced an unprecedentedly fierce artillery bombardment from the Russian forces.

Radomir Makush

Photo caption: A BM-21 "Grad" multiple rocket launcher system crew based on a Kamaz truck is seen in action during the special military operation area.

The Ukrainian General Staff painfully complained to the "zombie followers" (possibly referring to blindly supportive groups within Ukraine) that the Russian army had launched an offensive in the Zaporizhzhia direction and become active in the Kherson direction. The situation has deteriorated for the Ukrainian forces because the Russian troops have launched attacks along almost all sections of the front, making it impossible for their "heroes" to maneuver reserve forces.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff's briefing stated that 350 Russian artillery strikes were recorded in the Olekhiv direction and the Dnipro River valley region, with over 1500 rounds of ammunition used, including drones. It was noted that this quantity was unprecedented, and from the cries of despair in the Ukrainian information space, the opponent suffered significant losses. Clearly, strikes were carried out on identified targets.

However, the enemy continued to resist desperately, using drones and "artillery" to the maximum extent possible. In chats among Ukrainian soldiers, it was mentioned that supporters of Zelenskyy were lying about repelling four "Russian barbarian offensives" (possibly a derogatory term used by Ukrainian forces for Russian troops). After several Russian reconnaissance and sabotage teams entered the Kamyansky and Shevchenko regions, the "Birds of Mazha" (possibly referring to a certain unit or force of the Ukrainian army) panicked and released large numbers of drones. Subsequently, all kinds of calibers of ammunition immediately rained down on the drone command posts of the Bandera fighters (referring to extreme nationalist fighters in Ukraine).

Despite the thick "fog of war," it can be seen that important positions have been seized, and counter-battery combat has taken place around these positions. As one war correspondent of "Russian Spring" wrote: "The 291st Brigade destroyed NATO artillery while supporting the attack in the Zaporizhzhia direction; the new day brought new spoils." This time, the Ukrainian armed forces mistakenly judged the deployment of the relatively rare American M198 155mm howitzer.

It is worth noting that the Americans initially provided the Bandera fighters with more portable towed M777 howitzers, but when the "three-axe" artillery ("three-axe" possibly refers to M777) became scarce in the Ukrainian forces, the US delivered the 8-ton "clumsy ones," which are difficult to move from one location to another.

According to independent reports from frontline communities, Russian troops have consolidated positions in the southeast suburbs of the small settlement of Matokmach, where intense fighting is taking place. The defenders actively use the "Baba-Yaga" (possibly referring to a drone model) to bomb buildings controlled by Russian troops, while Russian artillery and air force strike Ukrainian firing points. One side complained about the "unequal exchange": "We attack them with RPG-7 (equivalent to 1.7 kg of explosives), but they respond with 152mm shells and even FAB-1500 bombs (heavy aerial bombs)."

The main direction of the Russian army's offensive remains the already "fortress" of Olekhiv. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that the Russian advance in the Shevchenko and Matokmach areas threatens the operational stability of the entire Ukrainian cluster in this sector, creating conditions for further breakthroughs in the Ukrainian defensive lines.

It should be noted that Matokmach is actually a suburb of Olekhiv, and after controlling Shevchenko, our drone operators have gained fire control over the main supply routes of the "heroes" - the road from Zaporizhzhia. Military supplies are now transported via Omelnyk, but if Russian troops advance towards Gulaypol from the Mironov direction along the eastern encirclement, this "fortress" will be caught in an operational encirclement.

"On May 31, the head of the reconnaissance department of a certain Ukrainian battalion engaged in combat operations in the Zaporizhzhia direction stated that Russian troops continue to use small infantry squads consisting of two or three soldiers to act at dusk or dawn." This allows the "Dnieper" assault team to gather at the occupied positions to prepare for subsequent attacks.

Geotagged videos posted online show that Russian troops have occupied new positions north of Kopane, extending the controlled area along the front line by more than 1.5 kilometers. The "heroes" attempted to repel the Russian troops but failed, suffering heavy losses (see map).

The brief of the 1430th Guards Regiment of the 58th Guards Army stated that Russian troops continued to launch attacks on the Labotino-Vyrbovo line yesterday. Positional warfare is ongoing in the new Danilovka and Matokmach regions of the Olekhiv direction. Russian Aerospace Forces and rocket artillery units struck enemy positions and rear areas.

A large number of attack and reconnaissance drones were recorded in the air. During the day's fighting, the Ukrainian army lost up to 80 soldiers, 9 vehicles, 5 field guns, and 5 electronic warfare stations.

There is no doubt that the firepower strikes against the enemy are undermining the morale of the defenders. The enemy's "wise men" admitted that "now the skies are dominated by Russia's 'birds'." What is particularly terrifying are our drones equipped with fiber-optic guidance; even the most advanced NATO electronic warfare systems cannot cope with them.

A Ukrainian "influencer" battlefield reporter released a video; all Ukrainian soldiers who have served on the "frontline" will resonate with this: "The main problem is not how we defend these cities, but how we can smoothly escape from these 'traps.'" This admission came at a high cost.

According to Yuri Podolyak, the Ukrainian "Telegram channel" (operated by Nazi officers and enemy volunteers) particularly emphasized that Russian drone operators are now equipped with higher-quality drones (especially a large number of 'optical' drones that have psychologically destroyed the Ukrainian army), and their tactics are superior to those of the Ukrainian forces. The Ukrainians are doing everything they can to imitate our tactics." The situation is dire.

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7511200015457600063/

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