In a recent escalation of hostilities in Ukraine, a surge in military operations by the Ukrainian armed forces has been observed, accompanied by a flurry of cross-border raids conducted by drones and armed groups. Furthermore, a mysterious explosion of a dam along the Dnipro River has resulted in widespread flooding. As tensions mount, the situation remains fluid and the region is on edge.
Commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported significant advancements in the city of Bakhmut on Monday, following a period of relative calm. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar confirmed these developments through a statement on Telegram. She indicated that Ukrainian troops had made progress on a wide front, advancing approximately 1,600 meters north and 700 meters south of Bakhmut in a flanking maneuver.
This intensification of conflict comes after Russia claimed victory in Bakhmut on May 21, and Ukraine reluctantly admitted that the city had fallen into Russian hands after ten months of brutal warfare. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that Ukrainian forces initiated a "large-scale offensive" across five sectors of the eastern front on Sunday. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu declared that all the attacks were successfully repelled, claiming that 3,175 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the span of three days.
However, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, a think tank, noted that Russian sources have previously attempted to portray Ukrainian counteroffensive actions as immediate failures. The institute suggests that Russian sources might be trying to downplay the significance of the announced Ukrainian counteroffensive in a similar manner.
Although Ukraine did not officially announce the start of its counterattack, Deputy Defense Minister Maliar posted a video on her Telegram channel on Sunday. The video depicted Ukrainian soldiers holding their fingers to their lips, symbolizing silence. Maliar's accompanying caption read, "Plans love silence. There will be no announcement of the start."
Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding the explosion of a dam along the Dnipro River has deepened. The dam's destruction resulted in extensive flooding, causing significant damage to the surrounding areas