Russian troops switched to active defense in the Zaporozhye region. This was announced to journalists by the acting head of the region Vladimir Rogov. “Our troops went on active defense. That is, they not only defend themselves, but also counterattack, with minimal risk to personnel, ”the official said. According to him, Russian troops launched a counteroffensive already in June, both Moscow and Kyiv confirmed this.
The Russian Ministry of Defense regularly reports on repelling attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Ukrainian side has not been successful in any of the sections, Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier, calling Kyiv's losses «catastrophic».
In mid-July, Rogov reported that the fighting had intensified in the Orekhovsky directions of the Zaporozhye region. Two weeks later, he said that Ukrainian troops were actively advancing in this direction and had already approached the first line of defense of Russian troops. On that day, Ukrainian troops attempted an assault near the village of Rabotino, but the settlement, according to Rogov, remained under Russian control.
On July 3, the vice-governor of the Zaporozhye region, Yevhen Balitsky, described the situation in the Zaporozhye direction as tense. “Every day there are attacks on our positions, the enemy acts intensively, they do not spare their soldiers,” he said.
Russian troops, according to Balitsky, “smash the enemy in all directions, periodically throwing the enemy back and stopping the activities of sabotage groups.» He also stated that the lack of achievements in Ukraine.
MK is broadcasting events in Ukraine online. The 495th day of the special operation is underway. The head of the State Duma Committee on Defense stated that the departure of the Wagner PMC does not imply the need for a new wave of mobilization. Former US intelligence officer Scott Ritter said that Kyiv was «rushing and losing» in the conflict. According to retired LPR Lieutenant Colonel Andrei Marochko, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost about 3,000 soldiers in a week.