UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 551 - AUGUST 26, 2023

The Ukrainian armed forces have made further tactically significant progress in the western Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and several Ukrainian and Russian sources report that the Ukrainian armed forces are advancing through what Ukrainian and US sources consider to be one of the most challenging series of prepared Russian defense positions.

Satellite imagery released on August 25 shows that the Ukrainian armed forces have advanced 1.5 km south of Novoprokopivka (13 km south of Orikhiv) to the northeast. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley stated on August 25 that the Ukrainian armed forces are currently attacking the main Russian defense lines along the Ukrainian advance axis. Reuters reported on August 26 that a Ukrainian commander fighting in southern Ukraine stated that the Ukrainian armed forces believe they have broken through the toughest Russian defense line in that area and can now move forward faster. The Ukrainian commander mentioned that the Ukrainian armed forces have advanced into areas where they have only encountered Russian "logistics groups," and he expects further Ukrainian breakthroughs in these areas to be easier.

A Russian military blogger claimed on August 25 that the Ukrainian armed forces were attacking towards rear defense lines near Verbove (18 km southwest of Orikhiv), suggesting that the Ukrainian armed forces may be close to tactical rearward areas within the series of Russian defense positions they are currently penetrating - however, these reports should not be misinterpreted as indicating that the Ukrainian armed forces have penetrated into rearward Russian areas on an operational level.

The full Russian Offensive Update 551 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

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