Russian military bloggers suggest Ukraine has made gains during latest assaults, but defending is always easier
Ukraine may not have formally declared its counteroffensive has begun, but the attacks being reported on Russian lines overnight and into Monday morning look like the first steps of what is likely to be a tough military campaign.
Kyiv is of course mindful of the need for surprise, releasing a video on Sunday of its soldiers holding fingers to their lips, but the volume of reports from the Russian side tells its own story, with Moscow’s Ministry of Defence reporting a two-brigade assault on the Donetsk end of the southern front.
The Kremlin was quick to declare the attack repulsed, but several in Russia’s community of ultra-nationalist military bloggers were more sceptical. Relying on their own sources, they suggested Ukraine had made some initial gains.
Igor Girkin, perhaps the best known, said the Russian MoD’s statements were “not quite true”, that “the enemy managed to cut into our position”, and argued that it looked likely the counteroffensive had finally begun.
War Gonzo, run by the war correspondent Semyon Pegov, was more specific. The blog suggested Ukraine had penetrated two kilometres into Russian-held positions before Novodonetske, between Velyka Novosilka and Vuhledar.
