Not just fighting between the trenches and between the various Russian defense lines in the south and east of Ukraine. The war is also raging in the country rear, including sabotage and actions by groups of “Ukrainian partisans”. These are groups that are active in the areas occupied by the Russians in the first months of the conflict with the intention of attacking the enemy forces stationed primarily there Crimea And Zaporizhia. As Ukrainska Pravda reports, in the last few hours a group called “Atesh“Bombs were planted in at least two trucks used by the Moscow army. There are said to be several deaths among the soldiers, although there is no confirmation of this from either Kiev or the Kremlin.
The attack south of Zaporizhia
As we read in the Ukrainian media, the attack actually happened yesterday. The location is that of Genichesk, within the part of Kherson Oblast still occupied by Russian troops. It is a strategic area as it overlooks the Sea of Azov and is just a few steps from the internationally recognized border of Crimea. Here, according to reconstructions of the incident, a group of militiamen from the Atesh group discovered an important depot of vehicles supplied to the Russian army.
9:15 a.m. to 7:45 a.m #ATESH The agent destroyed a group of intruders in Genichesk. An army agent hid a 10-kilogram “gift” for his “comrades.” The moment the military dismounted the equipment, the explosives were activated. 2 trucks carrying personnel were destroyed. 46.18147, 34.79196 pic.twitter.com/tX3mxi7Xqv
— ATESH_eng (@atesh_eng) September 16, 2023
The group then went on the attack, entered the area used by the Moscow military and planted at least two people artillery on board as many trucks. The explosive devices, weighing at least ten kilograms, are said to have been detonated later by Ukrainian partisans. That is, when the soldiers who had taken over the provided vehicles got out of their vehicles.
The number of people involved in the attack is unknown. According to Ukrainian media, there are said to be several casualties among the Russian military. However, no confirmation has arrived from Kiev. Neither from government departments nor from military district headquarters. The group may have acted autonomously in relation toBoo, the Ukrainian intelligence service that often coordinates the activities of pro-Kiev groups in the occupied territories. However, if the attack is confirmed, it will once again highlight the significant danger behind the conflict for the Russians, especially in the areas occupied between February and March 2022.
Kyiv advances south of Bakhmut
However, on the front line of the war waged on the field, the Ukrainians have confirmed the reconquest in the last hours Andriivka. The latter is a strategic location in Donetsk Oblast south of Bakhmut. The advance in this sector came at the culmination of weeks of fighting in which Kiev managed to seize the initiative.
In fact, after the fall of Bakhmut in May, the Ukrainians immediately began counterattacking, focusing mainly on the southern sector. The aim was to exploit the lack of consolidation of the Russian defensive positions, which was also affected by the difficult handover of baton between the Wagner militiamen and the regular soldiers.
Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade reported the liberation of its personnel #Andriivka and the Russian 72nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade “completely destroyed” after surrounding the settlement. https://t.co/vBqPmFNNvX https://t.co/m6Q7WZN0j6 pic.twitter.com/BVH1793aD2
— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) September 16, 2023
The Ukrainians then pushed around the hills of Klishchyivkafrom where it is possible to control the fire on the southern outskirts of Bakhmut and the surrounding area Kurdiumivka. Andriivka is exactly halfway between the two places mentioned. Its capture could allow a further acceleration of the Ukrainian advance around Bakhmut, although Kiev would be forced to contend with a Russian defense that has so far been able to halt the actions of opposing forces.