Ukraine says it has destroyed important Russian equipment, including nine helicopters, in an airstrike.
The defence department posted about the “success of Operation Dragonfly” on the eastern cities of Berdyansk and Luhansk, which are currently occupied by Russian forces.
Along with the nine helicopters, one air defence launcher and several special vehicles, ammo depots and airstrips were also reportedly targeted.
Dozens of Russian military troops were injured in the attack, the special forces said on Tuesday.
Russian authorities did not comment on the report.
This is just one attack reported on the frontlines in the last few days.
Western analysts believe Russia is trying to take the eastern city of Avdiivka, which stands in its way of controlling the entire Donetsk region.
Operation “Dragonfly”. Successful operation of the Ukrainian SOF to attack Berdyansk and Luhansk Airfields.
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) October 17, 2023
As a result, enemy’s losses are:
◾️ 9 helicopters;
◾️ 1 air defense launcher;
◾️ special vehicles;
◾️ ammo depots;
◾️ air strips were damaged@SOF_UKR reports.…
The Kremlin’s forces deployed to Avdiivka are likely making slow progress and sustaining high casualties in what is proving a costly effort, the U.K. defence ministry said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Moscow has not recently commented on its progress in Avdiivk.
Ukrainian forces pushed back 22 Russian attacks on Monday, down from 30 reported assaults the previous day, according to the Institute for the Study of War which cited the Ukrainian General Staff.
Kyiv officials claim Russia’s assaults reached up to 60 per day by the middle of last week, but Ukraine has managed to hold back Putin’s troops.
The British Ministry of Offence has said Vladimir Putin has launched its “most significant offensive operation” in Ukraine since at last January on Tuesday morning.
It said: “Russia has highly likely begun a coordinated offensive across multiple axes in the east of Ukraine.
“Russian forces in Donetsk are conducting a combined arms offensive on the heavily defended town of Avdiivka, which has been on the front line since 2014.
“The town is a major obstacle in preventing Russian forces from their wider objective of taking control of Donetsk Oblast.
“Russia's attack is likely being carried out with multiple armoured battalions, which are attempting to envelop the town. It is likely to be the most significant offensive operation undertaken by Russia since at least January 2023.
"Entrenched Ukrainian forces have so far likely held back the Russian advance, with the latter sustaining heavy equipment and personal losses.
"Slow progress and high casualties have likely triggered a change in messaging from Russia, from an offensive to 'active-defence', as successfully clearing Avdiivka looks increasingly unlikely in the short term."
