Ukrainian forces push further south to the Dnieper River but fear Russian scorched-earthed tactics in retreat
By OWEN HOLDAWAY/THE MEDIA LINEUpdated: OCTOBER 26, 2022 01:41 A rocket unit destroying a Russian tank and supply vehicle in the southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast. (photo credit: Courtesy: Nicholas )
The Media Line has spoken exclusively with Ukrainian units battling Russian forces in Zaporizhzhia Oblast since the Russian annexation and forced deportation of civilians in the region.
“We didn’t feel any change on the front lines since the [illegal] referendum. Most of the region was unfortunately occupied in the first weeks of the war. But now we see that the brutal bombing of the regional center, in the city of Zaporizhzhia itself,” Alexi [not his real name], a 33-year-old Ukrainian soldier and medic on the front line, explains.Zaporizhzhia is one of four regions that Russian President Vladimir Putin recently annexed, following referendums in these territories late last month. In total, Moscow has now laid claim to some 15% of Ukrainian territory.
"We didn’t feel any change on the front lines since the [illegal] referendum. Most of the region was unfortunately occupied in the first weeks of the war. But now we see that the brutal bombing of the regional center, in the city of Zaporizhzhia itself."
Alexi
Alexi with his unit fighting north of the Dnieper River. (credit: Courtesy)
Worldwide condemnation of referendums
The referendums have been condemned by the United Nations and world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as international bodies such as NATO, the European Union, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
According to Alexi, who has been in the south since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, these annexations and the later announcement by Putin of the mobilization of Russian civilians to fight in Ukraine have changed little on the ground. “In our direction, there has been no change for the time being since the mobilization,” Alexi tells The Media Line, adding, “We are [still fighting a] professional army and PMCs, as well as Chechens. But we expect them here.” In response to the Ukrainian gains in the south and the recent attack on Crimean Bridge, the Russians have intensified their air campaign and launched a series of allegedly Iranian-madesuicide drone attacks on key Ukrainian infrastructure, something Alexi has seen firsthand. “That is because of Putin’s anger; in his opinion [the Zaporizhzhia region] is already part of Russia. But it is not and will always be [part of] Ukraine,” he added. Despite this, the fight in the south is intensifying, especially as the advancing Ukrainian forcesapproach Russian-defended villages along the Dnieper River.
“The battle here is mad. … Kyiv was easy in comparison,” a rocket launcher operator near the Dnieper River told The Media Line. Nicholas [also not his real name], who was recently injured by Russian shrapnel, added that Russia’s tactics in the area are becoming more extreme.
“The Russians are currently forcibly evacuating Ukrainian citizens from the area but it will not work; it is because they [the Russians] understand that now it’s a high possibility they will lose these regions.”
The next major objective of the Ukrainian forces in the area is to secure the Kakhovka dam and Antonivka Road Bridge along the Dnieper River.
“This is obviously a key objective of ours, but the Russians have mined Kakhovka HydroelectricPower Plant,” Nicholas says. He adds, if his troops manage to occupy Kherson, there is a real possibility and concern that the Russians will try to blow up this bridge. This is something reiterated by Alexi, who has been supporting Nicholas’ unit in its advances south. “Strategically, the bridges across the Dnieper are the main supply arteries for troops, for both us and the invaders. Therefore, I think that big battles for bridges in our region and Kherson are still ahead.”
Despite his optimism, garnered from Ukrainian victories on the battlefield, particularly the recent offensive that liberated much of Kharkiv Oblast in the east, Alexi believes the West can do more.
'World must do more'
“This war makes us very angry,” the medic states, “[but] the Kharkiv operation showed that if the Russian front was broken through, they fled and surrendered.” He adds that the world must do more.
“If Hitler had been stopped in Poland or Czechoslovakia, there would have been no France, Britain, Africa, the USSR, millions of victims, etc. Now we stop the crazy dictator at the very beginning. So, help us defeat him.”
