Due to the stalemate in the counteroffensive in the east and south, the Ukrainian army has been trying to cross the Dnieper. The Russian army opened fire, dozens of ships were destroyed, waves of Ukrainian soldiers were buried in the river, and there was a "scorching hell" around the Dnieper River.
Foreword: At present, the fierce confrontation between Russia and Ukraine on the Donbas front continues. In the south of Avdeyevka, the Russian army is engaged in street battles with the Ukrainian army, where the Ukrainian army has set up dense minefields, firing points, bunkers and artillery fire areas, etc., and the firepower is superimposed layer by layer, making every effort to prevent the Russian army from advancing.
In the direction of Maryinka, although the Ukrainian army still holds part of its positions in the western suburbs, it is only a matter of time before this "fortress city", which Ukraine has operated for nearly 10 years, is completely controlled by the Russian army.
In addition, in the Kherson direction, the Russian army did not leave the Ukrainian army with a chance to change its defense, and round after round of fierce offensives made it even more difficult for the Ukrainian army to cross the river.
(Ukrainian troops forcibly cross the Dnieper River)
1. Scorching hell: The Ukrainian army crossed the river with heavy casualties
For two months, Ukrainian marines have been launching an offensive on the Dnieper. The operation was a large-scale counteroffensive launched by the Ukrainian army to break through Russia's southern defenses and reverse the warplanes.
The Ukrainian side believes that as long as a major breakthrough is made there, it can threaten Crimea. Last month, the Ukrainian side boasted about the progress of the army on the ground, and some Russians were worried about it, but the reality is not as rosy as the Ukrainian side imagined.
According to the American column "War Zone", soldiers who took part in the river crossing operation said that the offensive was brutal and futile. Marines on the front lines said waves of soldiers were knocked down on the banks of the river or in the water before they could reach the other side, and the conditions were very difficult and muddy. In response, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that it was not possible to immediately comment on these statements and would respond in due course.
At the moment, the heaviest fighting is taking place in the village of Klinki on the eastern bank of the Dnieper, where Ukrainian forces occupy a narrow strip of area, and nearby houses are the only places where they will be able to gain a foothold. In a short period of time, the Russian army's artillery fire and drones hit dozens of Ukrainian ships, and under the suppression of the Russian army's heavy firepower, the local area has become a "scorching hell", in which the Ukrainian army is struggling to survive.
(Heavy artillery bombardment by the Russian army)
2. The Russian army is bombarding the crossings, and the progress of the Ukrainian army is doubtful?
Videos circulating on social media showed massive Russian airstrikes around the Dnieper, heavily bombarding several crossings along the 40-mile-long river, littering the banks with mud and burned trees. Ukrainian marines said the soldiers' bodies had been lying on the riverbank for two months and could not be buried due to heavy shelling.
As the Ukrainian army's counteroffensive is in trouble, the United States and Western countries have successively cut aid, and Ukraine has bet its chips on the counteroffensive on the Dnieper River, believing that as long as a breakthrough is made, it will prove that the Ukrainian army has the ability to confront the Russian army.
Ukraine hopes that these forces will be able to make a breakthrough deep enough to threaten Russia's supply routes and control in the south. To achieve these goals, Ukraine has formed several new naval special operations teams this year to carry out the mission.
Recently, the Ukrainian side has been claiming that the Ukrainian army around the Dnieper River has made a significant breakthrough, successfully gained a foothold on the eastern bank, and established several strongholds.
But Marines on the front line say that these claims grossly exaggerate the truth, that there is no such thing as observation posts and positions, and that it is difficult to establish a foothold there, let alone deploy weapons and equipment to the other side.
(The Ukrainian army operates drones to attack the positions of the Russian army)
There is information that the Russian army has also suffered serious losses, and Ukrainian artillery, rocket artillery and drones have launched several attacks on Russian troops and armored units on the east bank. In addition, the Ukrainian side transferred back a reinforcement of airborne troops from the Zaporozhye front.
3. In the game under the cold winter, there are subtle changes in the stalemate state of the front
Due to the shortage of weapons and equipment of the Ukrainian army, the troops suffered heavy casualties, and the stalemate battlefield began to change in favor of the Russian army. According to Phoenix TV, Western military experts say that Russia has entered a "wartime economy", with a 70% increase in its military budget in 2024. It is worth mentioning that the supply of various weapons and ammunition for the Russian army is also endless, NATO officials said that Russia's artillery shell production is more than 7 times that of the entire NATO bloc, and the Russian army fires an average of 6-80,000 shells per day, while the Ukrainian army only has 7-8,000 rounds, a difference of ten times between the two sides.
From this point of view, whether it is the military budget or the amount of ammunition, the Ukrainian army cannot be compared with the Russian army, not to mention that Russia's military resources are far more than Ukraine's.
A protracted war has brought many parties to a stalemate, but the game under the cold winter has sent a new signal. Seeing that the funds for aid to Ukraine are about to run out, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was invited to visit the United States to discuss countermeasures, and after difficult mediation, the Biden administration promised to provide $200 million in aid to Ukraine. In this regard, the Ukrainian side was not satisfied, and put forward an ambitious list of weapons, hoping that the United States would provide advanced weapons for "Black Hawk" helicopters and "THAAD" anti-missile systems.
In the face of Ukraine's "lion's mouth", even the Biden administration has to gasp. As for whether and when can we get it, I'm afraid that the Democrats will have to engage in a long time of "ripping" with the Republicans, and Ukraine will wait.
(Putin's whirlwind visit to the UAE and Saudi Arabia)
When Zelensky asked for military aid, Russian President Vladimir Putin suddenly conducted a "whirlwind diplomacy" with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, discussing bilateral relations, the oil market and other issues. Some media commented that this shows that Putin has begun to arrange for the development of the post-war economy. Subsequently, Putin also met with Iranian President Raisi in Moscow, and combined with the news of his announcement of his participation in the presidential election, Putin seems to be indeed preparing for Russia to come out of the haze of war and return to the world stage.
Conclusion: Do you know anything about the current situation on both sides of the Dnieper? Welcome to leave your views and stories in the comment area.