Tarnavsky: Ukrainian forces have broken through the Russian defenses near Verbove

23 September, 2023 The village of Verbove on the unofficial map of hostilities on September 22, 2023. The Ukrainian forces have broken through the defense of the Russian forces near the village of Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia region. The Commander of the Tavria operational grouping of troops, Oleksandr Tarnavsky, told CNN.

The general who leads the Ukrainian offensive on the southern front predicts an even bigger breakthrough in the future. "On the left flank [near Verbove], we have a breakthrough and we continue to advance further," he said. At the same time, Tarnavsky notes that in this area of the frontline Ukrainian forces are moving slower than anticipated.

Brig.

Gen. Oleksandr Tarnavsky. Photo from open sources.

"Not as fast as it was expected, not like in the movies about the Second World War.

The main thing is not to lose the initiative (that we have)," said the Ukrainian general. Earlier this week, OSINT analysts reported that Ukrainian mechanized units had crossed the Russian defense line near Verbove. Such a conclusion was made based on photos and videos from the front line released by the Russians.

Ukrainian armored vehicles cross the trenches along the Surovikin Line, September 2023.

Photo credits: freeze frame from a video of a Russian drone

At the moment, the Ukrainian military is faced with the task of consolidating their positions and holding them under the onslaught of Russian counter attacks. There is also the job of expanding the bridgehead behind the line of fortifications to ensure further maneuvers deep into the Russian-occupied territories.

The line of the trenches of the invaders (in white) and movement of Ukrainian armored vehicles in the video (in red). Photo credits: DeepState map

At the beginning of September, Brig.

Gen. Oleksandr Tarnavsky announced that Ukrainian troops had broken through the first line of defense of the Russians in the Zaporizhzhia region. The general believes that winter will not stop the Ukrainian offensive, and that the biggest breakthrough is still ahead.

Tank Challenger 2 of the Ukrainian military. September 2023. Ukraine.

Frame from the video of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces

Intense rains in the fall can make the ground in Ukraine soggy and slow down the movement with heavy machinery, such as tanks.

But Tarnavsky says Ukraine's forces move in small groups, mostly on foot, so he doesn't think the weather will have much of an impact on the advance.