Ukraine's Southeastern Counteroffensive Is Reshaping The Front Line
Russian retreat improves Ukraine's position ahead of possible Russian attacks in the spring
Ukraine’s southeastern counteroffensive grinds into its fourth week
After clearing Russian infiltrators from the disputed gray zone east of Pokrovs’ke, the Ukrainians are now targeting settlements the Russians once firmly controlled
Pushing back the Russians from entrenched positions creates space and time for the wider Ukrainian force to prepare for the anticipated spring fighting
For the first three weeks of their southeastern counteroffensive, Ukrainian forces focused on the most immediate and urgent goal: to clear Russian infiltrators from the kilometers-wide “gray zone” separating Ukrainian and Russian lines.
In the critical, 30-km sector between the Ukrainian-controlled town of Pokrovs’ke in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and the Russian-controlled town of Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a pair of powerful Ukrainian battlegroups has achieved this objective.
Now the Ukrainians have shifted their aim. They’re no longer just targeting infiltrators in the gray zone. Instead, they’re advancing toward settlements the Russians once firmly controlled.
First to be liberated: Ternove. In recent days, the Ukrainian 425th Assault Regiment routed the Russian 69th Covering Brigade and regained full control of the village.
