Ukrainian forces have decisively breached Russia’s first defensive line near Zaporizhzhia after weeks of painstaking mine clearance, and expect faster gains as they press the weaker second line, the general leading the southern counteroffensive Oleksandr Tarnavskyy has said in an interview with The Guardian.
The Russians' second line of defence is weaker, he said. Oleksandr Tarnavskyy estimated Russia had devoted 60% of its time and resources into building the first defensive line and only 20% each into the second and third lines because Moscow had not expected Ukrainian forces to get through.
"We are now between the first and second defensive lines," he said.
In a commentary to the interview on Telegram, Tarnavskyy said that "Ukrainian forces were now pushing out on both sides of the breach and consolidating their hold on territory seized in recent fighting."
According to Tarnavskyy, the defenders are now completing the destruction of enemy units that provide cover for the retreat of Russian troops behind their second defensive line.
A vast minefield trapped Ukrainian troops for weeks as infantry sappers slowly cleared an assault route on foot. Russian troops behind it “just stood and waited for the Ukrainian army”, picking off vehicles with shells and drones, he said.
"As soon as some equipment appeared, the Russians immediately began to fire at it and destroy it," he said.
But now that barrier has been crossed, Russians have been forced into manoeuvres and Ukrainians are back in their tanks and other armoured vehicles. In a sign that Moscow is feeling the pressure, it has redeployed troops to the area from frontlines inside occupied Ukraine.
"The enemy is pulling up reserves, not only from Ukraine but also from Russia. But sooner or later, the Russians will run out of all the best soldiers. This will give us an impetus to attack more and faster," Tarnavskyy said.
In late August, Ukrainian defenders liberated Robotyne in Zaporizhzhya Region. On 22 August, they entered the settlement with a battle, and the next day they raised the Ukrainian flag there.