by Dan Peleschuk
KYIV, June 9 (Reuters) – Russia reported heavy fighting on Friday on the southern part of the Ukrainian front, where Russian bloggers said they saw German and U.S. armor for the first time, suggesting the counterattack of the long-awaited Ukraine was underway.
In the near total absence of independent information from the front lines and strict silence from Kyiv, it is impossible to determine whether any Ukrainian attacks were successful.
The counter-offensive is expected to involve thousands of Ukrainian soldiers trained and equipped by the West. Russia, which has had months to prepare its defense lines, says it has been repelling attacks since the start of the week. Kyiv says the bulk of his effort has yet to happen.
Pro-invasion Russian bloggers reported heavy fighting on Friday on the Zaporizhia front near the town of Orikhiv, heading towards the Crimean peninsula, one of Ukraine’s main potential targets.
According to Ben Barry, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the reports reported by Russian bloggers about German or American armor would provide, if confirmed, the first evidence that the new Ukrainian brigades armed by the West joined the battle.
In total, Kyiv has 12 brigades totaling 50,000 to 60,000 men, ready to embark on the counter-offensive. Nine of these brigades were armed and trained by the West.
Ukraine generally bars journalists from traveling to its side of the front lines during offensive operations, insisting on keeping its plans secret.
NO TIME TO TALK
In its latest update on the fighting, Russia says it destroyed 21 Ukrainian armored vehicles in the past 24 hours, unverifiable information.
Kyiv reported on its side of territorial gains in the east, around the city of Bakhmout, but said almost nothing on the southern front, which commentators consider to be the main axis of its attack intended to closer to the coast and cutting off Russia’s access to Crimea.
In a video message, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky thanked Ukrainian troops and reiterated his previous assertions about progress in Bakhmut, without giving further details.
“Now is not the time to talk about it,” he said.
For weeks, Ukraine has been attacking targets deep in Russian-occupied territory, in preparation for its assault. Moscow is stepping up its strikes on Ukrainian cities with cruise missiles and drones.
Moscow also said on Friday that Ukraine struck the Russian city of Voronezh, injuring three people. Kyiv refrains from commenting on reports of attacks inside Russia. (Reporting Mark Trevelyan and Reuters bureaus, Peter Graff, French version Corentin Chapron, editing by Kate Entringer)
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