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Ukrainian attacks continue in key southern Zaporizhzhia region Ukraine army attacks Russian forces in southern Zaporizhzhia region
(about 3 hours later)
Experts believe the focus of Ukraine's long awaited counter-offensive will be in ZaporizhzhiaExperts believe the focus of Ukraine's long awaited counter-offensive will be in Zaporizhzhia
Ukrainian attacks in the key southern Zaporizhzhia region are continuing, Russian officials and military bloggers say, reporting heavy fighting there. Ukraine's military has launched attacks on occupying Russian forces in the key southern Zaporizhzhia region, Russian officials and military bloggers say.
They say Ukrainian troops - backed by tanks, artillery and drones - are trying to advance south of the town of Orikhiv for the second night running.They say Ukrainian troops - backed by tanks, artillery and drones - are trying to advance south of the town of Orikhiv for the second night running.
A senior Ukrainian defence official said the enemy was in "active defence".A senior Ukrainian defence official said the enemy was in "active defence".
Several military experts have said the focus of Ukraine's long awaited counter-offensive will be Zaporizhzhia.Several military experts have said the focus of Ukraine's long awaited counter-offensive will be Zaporizhzhia.
They argue Kyiv is trying to regain access to the Sea of Azov, splitting the occupying Russian forces in the region into two detached groupings.They argue Kyiv is trying to regain access to the Sea of Azov, splitting the occupying Russian forces in the region into two detached groupings.
That would not only weaken their combat capabilities, but also eliminate a land bridge to Crimea - Ukraine's southern peninsula illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. That would not only weaken Russia's combat capability but also eliminate a land bridge to Crimea, the southern peninsula illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.
Earlier on Thursday, the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Ukraine's counter-offensive had begun - although Kyiv remains tight-lipped on the issue.
Meanwhile, the UK defence ministry said that "amidst a highly complex operational picture, heavy fighting continues along multiple sectors of the front".
It added that "in most areas Ukraine holds the initiative".
Russia seized most of the Zaporizhzhia region - including Europe's largest nuclear power plant - soon after President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The regional capital, the city of Zaporizhzhia, is controlled by Ukraine.
Ukraine counter-offensive 'ready to begin'
Several Russian pro-Kremlin military bloggers reported late on Thursday that Ukraine had resumed its attacks overnight.
They said armoured personnel carriers and drones directing artillery fire were also deployed.
Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed local official, said there had been "active fighting" in the area between Orikhiv and Tokmak, with Russian troops holding their positions.
The town of Tokmak is seen by many military experts as a key target for Ukraine as it seeks to advance to the Sea of Azov.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the earlier reported Ukrainian assault had been repelled, harming the enemy. The minister provided no evidence to back his claim.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said in a brief statement on Thursday that Russian forces were currently "in active defence" on the Zaporizhzhia direction.
In its latest bulletin on Thursday evening, Ukraine's military stated only that the "enemy continues to be on the defensive" towards Zaporizhzhia as well as in neighbouring Kherson, a region hit by a massive flooding after a major dam collapsed earlier this week.
The Ukrainian military added that Russian troops had carried out air strikes there and used artillery during the day.
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Ukraine has been planning a counter-offensive for months, but it has wanted as long as possible to train troops and to receive advanced military equipment from Western allies.Ukraine has been planning a counter-offensive for months, but it has wanted as long as possible to train troops and to receive advanced military equipment from Western allies.
Last month, Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, told the BBC that Kyiv was ready to launch the attack - without naming a specific date. The government is deliberately saying little about its plans but its forces are now probing Russian positions at several points along the front line, looking for signs of weakness.
Meanwhile Russian attacks on Ukraine continue. Overnight it launched fresh cruise missile and drone strikes, with falling debris killing at least one person in Zhytomyr to the west of the capital Kyiv.
Heavy fighting in south
Russia seized most of the Zaporizhzhia region soon after President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion in February 2022. However the regional capital, the city of Zaporizhzhia, is controlled by Ukraine.
The recent fierce fighting in the area continued overnight, with several Russian pro-Kremlin military bloggers reporting late on Thursday that Ukraine had resumed attacks, noting the movement of armoured personnel carriers and drones directing artillery fire.
Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed local official, said Russian troops were holding their positions amid "active fighting" towards the city of Tokmak, seen as a key target for Ukraine as it seeks to advance to the Sea of Azov.
It is difficult to verify the competing claims by both sides. Earlier on Thursday Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said Russian forces were currently "in active defence" in Zaporizhzhia and claimed advances were being made around the eastern city of Bakhmut, which has been largely destroyed during months of fighting.
Ukraine counter-offensive 'ready to begin'
The Zaporizhzhia region is also home to Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which is in an area controlled by Russian forces.
The plant is continuing to receive cooling water from the reservoir of the Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro river, despite the dam's destruction on Tuesday which has seen water levels in the reservoir fall and large areas downstream of the dam flooded.
However the resulting emergency is threatening the region's water supplies, with the WHO also warning that cholera could spread.
It is also predicted to have serious long-term consequences for agriculture across one of the country's most fertile areas.
Watch: View from a boat on what used to be a streetWatch: View from a boat on what used to be a street
Watch: View from a boat on what used to be a streetWatch: View from a boat on what used to be a street
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Russia-Ukraine warRussia-Ukraine war
Volodymyr ZelenskyVolodymyr Zelensky
RussiaRussia
ZaporizhzhiaZaporizhzhia
Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin
UkraineUkraine