KYIV—Russia reported heavy fighting along the front in southern Ukraine on Friday.
With virtually no independent reporting from the front lines, it was impossible to assess whether Ukraine was having success in penetrating Russian defences to drive out Russian forces.
The counteroffensive is ultimately expected to involve thousands of Ukrainian troops trained and equipped by the West. Russia, which has had months to prepare its defensive lines, says it has repelled attacks since the start of the week. Kyiv has so far claimed its main effort has yet to begin.
Moscow reported intense battles on Friday on the Zaporizhzhia front near the city of Orikhiv, around the mid-point of the “land bridge” linking Russia to the Crimea peninsula, seen as one of Ukraine’s likeliest targets.
In all, Kyiv has 12 brigades totalling 50,000–60,000 troops ready to unleash in the counteroffensive. Nine of the brigades have been armed and trained by the West.
In a statement, the Russian defence ministry said: “The armed forces of Ukraine continued attempts to conduct offensive operations in the southern Donetsk and Zaporozhzhia directions.”
It said its troops had repelled two Ukrainian assaults just south of Orikhiv and four near Velyka Novosilka further east. It described Ukraine’s Velyka Novosilka attack force as including two battalions of troops supported by tanks. Several battalions of up to 1,000 troops comprise a brigade.
Kyiv has reported fighting in the east where battles have been ongoing for months, but has said almost nothing about the situation on the southern front, where it is widely expected to attempt its main push towards the coast.
Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said only that battles were continuing for Velyka Novosilka and Russian troops were mounting “active defence” at Orikhiv.
In the east, Ukraine has reported gains of territory around Bakhmut, which Russian forces captured last month.
Flood Disaster Overshadows Fighting
The initial days of the counteroffensive have been overshadowed this week by a huge humanitarian disaster after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam holding back the waters of the Dnipro River that bisects Ukraine.Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate homes flooded in the war zone.
Ukraine and Russia blame each other for dam destruction.
In Hola Prystan on the Russian-controlled side of the river, rescuers evacuated residents in rubber dinghies.
The river serves as the front line dividing the two sides. Both accuse the other of shelling across it, interfering with rescue efforts. The Kremlin said Ukrainian shelling had killed people including a pregnant woman.
Ukraine has been attacking targets in Russian-held territory for weeks. Moscow has been striking Ukrainian cities with cruise missiles and drones.
The interior ministry said one person had been killed, three were wounded, and four buildings were destroyed by falling debris.
The air force also said two cruise missiles had struck a civilian object in the central Ukrainian region of Cherkasy. Regional governor Ihor Taburets said at least eight people were wounded.
Moscow said Ukraine had struck the Russian city of Voronezh with a drone, wounding three people.
