MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia stated on Tuesday that marines, aviation and artillery had scuppered more Ukrainian attempts to acquire a foothold on the japanese financial institution of the River Dnipro and on islands at the mouth of the river in southern Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin despatched troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a serious European land battle and the most critical confrontation between Russia and the West since the depths of the Chilly Warfare.
Ukraine stated this month that its forces had crossed the Dnipro and established a number of bridgeheads on the japanese banks of the river, although Russia stated it was pummelling the Ukrainian positions.
“Black Sea Fleet marines are stopping all attempts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to perform amphibious landings on the Dnipro islands and the left financial institution of the Dnipro River,” Russia’s defence ministry stated.
The Russian defence ministry revealed a video which it stated confirmed marines from the 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade defeating Ukrainian forces. Troopers have been proven firing quite a lot of weapons, although the results of the combating was unclear.
It stated Ukrainian forces have been struggling heavy casualties and shedding tools in unsuccessful attempts to land on islands in the Dnipro. Reuters was unable to instantly confirm battlefield accounts from both facet.
It’s nonetheless unclear how important the Ukrainian try to acquire a foothold on the japanese financial institution of the Dnipro is. Crossing the Dnipro leaves Ukrainian models uncovered between river and marshland on one facet and closely fortified Russian strains on the different.
Together with Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, Russia now controls 17.5% of Ukraine’s internationally recognised territory. A Ukrainian counter-offensive has failed to make any important features this yr towards Russian forces.
In accordance to unverified studies by pro-Russian bloggers, Russia has been harrying Ukrainian forces close to the village Krynky, close to marshes on the japanese financial institution upriver from Kherson, from which Russia withdrew its forces in autumn 2022.
(Reporting by Reuters; enhancing by Man Faulconbridge and Ed Osmond)
