U.S. supplied Ukrainian Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles<\/p>\n
The Ukrainian Military and supporting paramilitaries have escalated offensives against Russian positions in Eastern Ukraine, according to reports from both Russian and Western sources. The Washington-based Institute of Study of War reported on July 26 the beginning of \u201ca significant mechanised counteroffensive operation\u201d in the west of the Zaporizhzhia region, with the New York Times <\/em>reporting that this was \u201cthe main thrust” of the offensive and included \u201cthousands of troops held in reserve, many of them Western-trained and equipped.\u201d Russian President Vladimir Putin himself highlighted that \u00a0\u201chostilities have intensified significantly.\u201d \u201cAll attempts at counter-offensive have been rebuffed, and the enemy sustained great losses and was repelled,\u201d the president stated, reporting that Ukraine has suffered losses of 26 tanks and 13 other armoured vehicles and over 200 casualties. \u201cThe enemy was not successful in any of the directions of firefight,\u201d he added. There has been some speculation that renewed offensives were intended in part to cast a shadow over Russia\u2019s Africa Summit in St Petersburg, the results of which have been viewed with much apprehension in the Western world as states across the continent, with the exception of Morocco<\/a>, have been generally supportive of Moscow in its standoff with NATO.<\/p>\n Fighting has been particularly centred along the frontier in the 1000km Zaporizhzhia region in Eastern Ukraine, where any major\u00a0breakthrough has the potential to allow Ukrainian forces to press towards the Crimean Peninsula. Crimea has been a target for intensified Ukrainian attacks<\/a> in recent weeks <\/a>and which has long been a target of significant symbolic value for both Kiev and its Western supporters. Ukraine\u2019s lack of air power, and the serious limitations<\/a> of its now much depleted<\/a> air defences, however, have been widely highlighted by analysts on both sides as a major factor undermining potential efforts to gain ground on the frontlines. Speaking to Russian state media, retired Russian Army colonel Anatoly Matviychuk reported to this effect regarding the new offensive that a serious impediment was \u201cthe complete absence of the Ukrainian Air Force\u2019s presence in the air, with the Russian Air Force controlling the enemy throughout the entire depth of its operational area. I think that this \u2018offensive\u2019 may have some temporary tactical successes \u2026 but I do not foresee any changes at the frontline. And everything will most likely end the way Ukraine\u2019s \u2018first\u2019 advance wrapped up.\u201d \u201cMost importantly, our aviation has practically shifted to systematic combat actions in the entire Russian special military operation zone \u2026 That is, we are currently conducting a so-called active defence to weaken the enemy by launching attacks,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Regarding the presence of Western advisors and combatants, specifically from the United Kingdom, Colonel Matviychuk elaborated regarding the new offensives: \u201cThe most interesting thing is that there are many English-speaking military personnel in the UAF being spotted in this area, including advisers, instructors, and even the UK army\u2019s \u2018Special Air Service\u2019.\u201d He thus referred to the new offensive as \u201cthe fruit of creativity of the U.S. and the UK\u2019s joint headquarters.\u201d Russian government sources alleged starting shortly after the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine in February 2022 that British combat troops had been deployed near the frontlines, with this initially widely ridiculed by Western sources before being confirmed <\/a>by the head of the British Royal Marines in December. The Marines were deployed for high risk operations near the frontlines from April 2022. Combatants from across the Western world have played major roles in the Ukrainian war effort, including ideologically motivated volunteers<\/a> such as the Georgian Legion<\/a> and the Polish Volunteer Corps<\/a>, private military contractors from security firms particularly in Poland<\/a>, and active service members in Western militaries such as the Royal Marines and the Special Air Service.<\/p>\n