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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/14/ukraine-failed-assault-near-mala-tokmachka-raises-counteroffensive-challenges
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| Ukraine’s failed Mala Tokmachka assault lays bare counteroffensive challenges | Ukraine’s failed Mala Tokmachka assault lays bare counteroffensive challenges |
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| Russia has had 12 months to prepare defensive positions supported by superior air power | Russia has had 12 months to prepare defensive positions supported by superior air power |
| The footage that began circulating on Russian social media channels last week depicted what was portrayed as a significant military setback for Ukraine at the beginning of its counteroffensive. | The footage that began circulating on Russian social media channels last week depicted what was portrayed as a significant military setback for Ukraine at the beginning of its counteroffensive. |
| In a flat, open area south of Zaporizhzhia – bisected by hedges and a wide muddy track – about 12 Ukrainian armoured vehicles had become pinned down, bunched too close together near a minefield. | In a flat, open area south of Zaporizhzhia – bisected by hedges and a wide muddy track – about 12 Ukrainian armoured vehicles had become pinned down, bunched too close together near a minefield. |
| In one video, shells and rockets can be seen tearing into the ground and into vehicles, including one of Ukraine’s new German-supplied Leopard tanks and US Bradleys. Soldiers can be seen running through the smoke from one damaged vehicle to another. | In one video, shells and rockets can be seen tearing into the ground and into vehicles, including one of Ukraine’s new German-supplied Leopard tanks and US Bradleys. Soldiers can be seen running through the smoke from one damaged vehicle to another. |
| When the shooting was finally over, several Ukrainian soldiers were dead. Smashed vehicles had been left abandoned. Russian commentators were crowing over the failure. | When the shooting was finally over, several Ukrainian soldiers were dead. Smashed vehicles had been left abandoned. Russian commentators were crowing over the failure. |
| The Russian MoD published a video showing their “trophies” captured and damaged Bradley’s and one Leopard-2 A6. The video is probably taken from South of Mala Tokmachka. But I didn’t see any geolocation yet. pic.twitter.com/TSIQ9mGlcB | The Russian MoD published a video showing their “trophies” captured and damaged Bradley’s and one Leopard-2 A6. The video is probably taken from South of Mala Tokmachka. But I didn’t see any geolocation yet. pic.twitter.com/TSIQ9mGlcB |
| The two sides have given conflicting accounts of what happened on the afternoon of 7 June, about 4km south of the village of Mala Tokmachka, with Moscow almost certainly overemphasising the importance of the engagement and Kyiv attempting to downplay it. Only now, amid the fog of war, is it possible to ascertain what happened. | The two sides have given conflicting accounts of what happened on the afternoon of 7 June, about 4km south of the village of Mala Tokmachka, with Moscow almost certainly overemphasising the importance of the engagement and Kyiv attempting to downplay it. Only now, amid the fog of war, is it possible to ascertain what happened. |
| As part of a wider effort in that area of the frontline, 20 Ukrainian armoured vehicles led by two specialised mine-clearing vehicles set off in what appears to have been a “breaching operation”, targeting an area of higher ground held by Russian forces. | As part of a wider effort in that area of the frontline, 20 Ukrainian armoured vehicles led by two specialised mine-clearing vehicles set off in what appears to have been a “breaching operation”, targeting an area of higher ground held by Russian forces. |
| Not long afterwards, brief posts on social media described how the column ran into serious difficulty close to a minefield, losing many of its vehicles. | Not long afterwards, brief posts on social media described how the column ran into serious difficulty close to a minefield, losing many of its vehicles. |
| According to analysis conducted by Deepstatemap, which tracks the status of the fighting in Ukraine, Kyiv’s forces attempted two separate attacks, the first involving nine vehicles, the second 11. | According to analysis conducted by Deepstatemap, which tracks the status of the fighting in Ukraine, Kyiv’s forces attempted two separate attacks, the first involving nine vehicles, the second 11. |
| It appears the first group encountered mines, which alerted Russian defenders quickly to their presence. The second group was quickly spotted by Russian reconnaissance drones and came under heavy artillery fire. | It appears the first group encountered mines, which alerted Russian defenders quickly to their presence. The second group was quickly spotted by Russian reconnaissance drones and came under heavy artillery fire. |
| At some stage it appears that four Bradleys – possibly from the second group – were sent to help retrieve troops from where they had become pinned down. | At some stage it appears that four Bradleys – possibly from the second group – were sent to help retrieve troops from where they had become pinned down. |
| According to Ukrainian accounts, the Russian fire led to the loss of one Leopard tank and four armoured personnel carriers. Other vehicles, including a second Leopard, appear to have been damaged. There are claims this tank was also abandoned. | According to Ukrainian accounts, the Russian fire led to the loss of one Leopard tank and four armoured personnel carriers. Other vehicles, including a second Leopard, appear to have been damaged. There are claims this tank was also abandoned. |
| Despite efforts by Russian sources to suggest a wider setback for Ukrainian forces in the area, it appears that much of the footage that emerged in the aftermath showed the same engagements from different angles. | Despite efforts by Russian sources to suggest a wider setback for Ukrainian forces in the area, it appears that much of the footage that emerged in the aftermath showed the same engagements from different angles. |
| According to the staff sergeant Valerii Markus of the Ukrainian 47th brigade – which was involved in the incident – Russia had hugely exaggerated the brigades’ losses. In a video posted online this week, a visibly angry Markus said his brigade had lost five soldiers, not the large numbers claimed by Russia, and had inflicted far heavier losses on the Russian side. | |
| Valerii Markus, Staff Sergeant of the 47th Mechanized Brigade, the one that suffered losses of Leopard-2A’s and Bradley’s IFVs south of Mala Tokmachka, has a few things to say. Really worth listening 👇https://t.co/mcBfRgl4hK | Valerii Markus, Staff Sergeant of the 47th Mechanized Brigade, the one that suffered losses of Leopard-2A’s and Bradley’s IFVs south of Mala Tokmachka, has a few things to say. Really worth listening 👇https://t.co/mcBfRgl4hK |
| “It’s hard for our soldiers,” he said aiming his anger at critics of what had occurred, “but they are fighting. They are recovering our land metre by fucking metre.” | “It’s hard for our soldiers,” he said aiming his anger at critics of what had occurred, “but they are fighting. They are recovering our land metre by fucking metre.” |
| The details of the failed assault remain important because of what they reveal about the challenges Ukraine’s counteroffensive faces against defensive positions Russia has had a year to prepare that are supported by Moscow’s superior air power, which has been more visible since Ukraine began its offensive. | The details of the failed assault remain important because of what they reveal about the challenges Ukraine’s counteroffensive faces against defensive positions Russia has had a year to prepare that are supported by Moscow’s superior air power, which has been more visible since Ukraine began its offensive. |
| Commenting on the events around Mala Tokmachka in an update in his Substack account, Phillips P O’Brien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St Andrews, suggested that such losses were to be expected because of the nature of the fighting. | Commenting on the events around Mala Tokmachka in an update in his Substack account, Phillips P O’Brien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St Andrews, suggested that such losses were to be expected because of the nature of the fighting. |
| “It’s clear that this operation will take a while. Ukraine is trying to do something that has not been successfully accomplished (perhaps ever) before. They are trying to execute a wide-scale offensive with the use of armoured vehicles without air supremacy against an entrenched enemy that possesses a large supply of defensive weaponry. | |
| “Many of the advantages Ukraine was able to use effectively in slowing any Russian advances to slower-than-snail pace over the last six months are now with the Russians. | “Many of the advantages Ukraine was able to use effectively in slowing any Russian advances to slower-than-snail pace over the last six months are now with the Russians. |
| “The Ukrainians are having to contend with the fact that now they need to send forces forward, including tanks, APCs, and other vehicles, and they must operate in an environment in which they are threatened by a large number of different systems –such as the almost ubiquitous handheld anti-vehicle missile.” | “The Ukrainians are having to contend with the fact that now they need to send forces forward, including tanks, APCs, and other vehicles, and they must operate in an environment in which they are threatened by a large number of different systems –such as the almost ubiquitous handheld anti-vehicle missile.” |
| In a comment piece for the Sydney Morning Herald, the former Australian general Mick Ryan cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from Ukraine’s losses around Mala Tokmachka. | In a comment piece for the Sydney Morning Herald, the former Australian general Mick Ryan cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from Ukraine’s losses around Mala Tokmachka. |
| “It was just a snapshot of a single Ukrainian company at a single place and time. When observing the war at a distance, time is required to assemble many different data sets from varying sources to ascertain the direction of the conflict.” | “It was just a snapshot of a single Ukrainian company at a single place and time. When observing the war at a distance, time is required to assemble many different data sets from varying sources to ascertain the direction of the conflict.” |
| Urging patience, he added: “These kinds of operations often unfold slowly at first, and then, as they generate tempo, can evolve very rapidly. We must be patient over the coming weeks. In saving their nation, the Ukrainians are attempting the most difficult form of military operation possible. They are not working to the comfortable timelines of the western media or commentators.” | Urging patience, he added: “These kinds of operations often unfold slowly at first, and then, as they generate tempo, can evolve very rapidly. We must be patient over the coming weeks. In saving their nation, the Ukrainians are attempting the most difficult form of military operation possible. They are not working to the comfortable timelines of the western media or commentators.” |