Ukrainian forces are advancing through the toughest line of Russian defences around the village of Robotyne, according to a US think tank.
They appear to be "within striking distance" of the next series of defensive positions, which may be weaker, the Institute for the Study of War said.
It said they could still pose a "significant challenge" but only if there are enough Russian soldiers capable of leveraging them.
"This series of prepared defensive positions may be less heavily defended than the positions Ukrainian forces already penetrated to the north," said the ISW.
"[The] defensive positions that Ukrainian forces are currently advancing through were comprised of dense layers of minefields and fortifications to which Russian forces committed considerable manpower, materiel, and effort to hold."
The next line includes anti-tank ditches, dragon's teeth anti-tank bollards, and Russian fighting positions.
Crucially for Ukraine, it may have been less heavily mined so as to allow Russian forces to retreat, said the ISW.
https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-live-updates-satellite-images-show-new-russia-deployments-as-biden-and-putin-summit-mooted-12541713
what I've been saying is what some commentatators are saying ....that Ukraine IS making strategic advances in the south .
I'm not interested in any BS propaganda but if anyone wishes to make a fact based and reasoned case for the opposite ...I'm very interested to hear it .
