Hundreds of Russian troops killed on Dzharylhach Island
The Russian army has been forced to retreat from its fortified defensive positions near Bakhmut, as Ukraine’s troops make further advances in the east.
In a bad day for Putin’s generals, Ukraine also destroyed ten ammunition dumps and a TOS-1 24-barrel multiple rocket launcher.
The terrifying thermobaric weapon can generate temperatures up to 3,000 degrees Celsius and literally “vaporise human bodies”.
Ukraine is attacking along three fronts, as it seeks to regain territory in its counteroffensive.
In the east, Kyiv’s army is attempting to outflank Russian troops and mercenaries in Bakhmut.
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The city was eventually captured in May after months of bloody attritional warfare that inflicted huge casualties on the Russians.
As a result, Bakhmut has become symbolically important for the Kremlin and so the Ukrainians are counting on Putin refusing to allow his army to make a tactical withdrawal.
By continuing to press towards the devastated city, the Ukrainians hope to fix a large number of Russian troops there and prevent them from reinforcing emerging weak points on the 600-mile front.
On Tuesday, Ukraine said it had dislodged entrenched Russian forces from positions south of Andriiivka, near Bakhmut.
In a briefing on the state of the war, a Ukrainian military spokesperson said: “On the Bakhmut front, our troops continue to conduct offensive actions to the south of the city.
“During the Defence Forces’ offensive actions, the enemy was forced to withdraw from positions in the area south of Andriivka.”
They added that the Russians unsuccessfully tried to regain lost positions north and west of Klishchiivka, as well as northwest of Kurdiumivka in a counter attack of their own.
Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern army, said the liberation of Andriivka would improve its tactical position as it continues to try and encircle Russian troops in Bakhmut.
Ukraine is also attacking on its southern front, as it ekes its way forwards in heavy fighting.
Where the Donetsk region meets Zaporizhzhia, the Ukrainians have been gradually advancing south from the town of Velyka Novosilka.
Late last week they captured Staromaiorske, less than 8km (5 miles) from their starting positions in June. The third thrust of its counteroffensive is centred in western Zaporizhzhia region, on the left bank of the Dnipro.
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Here the Ukrainians are trying to break through south of the settlement of Orikhiv, and have now reached the village of Robotyne some 15km (9 miles) away.
The Russians are suffering significant losses in personnel, weapons and equipment, according to Ukraine’s army high command.
General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the commander of the Tavria operational group, reported that in his sector of combat his troops has destroyed 19 pieces of Russian military equipment in the past 24 hours.
These included four armoured fighting vehicles, six artillery systems, mortars and a TOS-1A Solntsepyok multiple rocket launcher.
The TOS-1A has a fearsome reputation and has been called Putin’s “most terrible weapon”.
A Russian source told ultra-loyalist news outlet RIA FAN: “These weapons are considered the most terrible, there are no analogues in any country in the world.
“The Americans even tried to ban it, but not because it really is a weapon of mass destruction, but because the Americans can’t do anything like that.”
The destructive power of a TOS-1A was graphically highlighted in a 2011 edition of the US Army’s World Equipment Guide.
It stated: “The primary … effect [created by the TOS-1’ss rockets] is a long-duration high-pressure blast wave which creates a vacuum – then precipitates a reverse wave.
“These pressure/vacuum surges (up to 427 pounds per sq inch) cause a ripping effect on soft materials (such as airplane skin, radar surface, human lung tissue). Walls and surfaces within the affected area do not necessarily shield victims, rather cause multiple pressure waves, which amplify the tearing effects and can topple structures.”
It added: “A secondary effect is high-temperature heat — 2,500-3,000° C. An incomplete explosion renders a near-devastating effect, wide-area long-duration high-temperature flame. Even those outside of the blast area will be rendered ineffective with debilitating mental and physical trauma.”
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