UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 553 - 28 AUGUST 2023

Ukrainian authorities officially confirmed that Ukrainian forces have liberated Robotyne while Ukrainian advances continue in the western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and near Bakhmut.

Deputy Ukrainian Defense Minister Hanna Malyar announced on August 28 that Ukrainian forces liberated Robotyne, southeast of Robotyne (10 km south of Orikhiv), and achieved unspecified successes south of Mala Tokmachka (7 km southeast of Orikhiv), advancing towards Novodanylivka (4 km south of Orikhiv), Novopokropivka (15 km south of Orikhiv), Mala Tokmachka, and Ocheretuvate (25 km southwest of Orikhiv). Thermal anomalies from NASA's FIRMS/VIIRS sensors and Russian reports of Ukrainian advances likely indicate that Ukrainian forces have advanced near Verbove. Malyar also stated that Ukrainian forces displaced Russian forces from positions east of Klyshchyvka (7 km southwest of Bakhmut) and in the center of the settlement, as well as made unspecified progress near Orikhiv-Vasylivka (11 km northwest of Bakhmut).

Russian military leadership continues to utilize relatively high-quality Russian airborne troops to defend vulnerable positions against Ukrainian counterattacks instead of resorting to potential reserves.

Ukrainian military Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) reported on August 28 that partisans caused an explosion in the barracks of a Chechen unit of the Ready Police (OMON) "Akhmat-1" in Enerhodar in the occupied Zaporizhzhia area.

The complete Russian Offensive Update 553 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

UNDERSTANDING WAR