The situation on Ukraine’s southern front is deteriorating, with a sharp rise in the number of Russian assault groups, combat engagements, and artillery attacks.
That is according to Vladyslav Voloshyn, Spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, speaking to Ukrinform.
“The situation in the south continues to escalate daily. We’re seeing a significant increase in combat clashes, airstrikes with guided aerial bombs and unguided rockets, drone attacks, and artillery fire. There have also been more attempts by the enemy to breach our defensive lines,” Voloshyn stated.
According to him, throughout the second week of June, number of combat clashes has risen by 33%, missile strikes have increased by 50%, Shahed drone strikes on southern settlements have risen by 30%.
As for kamikaze drone attacks, they have also increased by 10%, averaging 700–710 per day: about 400 in the Zaporizhzhia sector, and about 280–300 in the Kherson sector.
Enemy losses have also grown by approximately 10% over the past week, Voloshyn added.
While the overall number of Russian troops in the south hasn’t risen significantly, the number of assault units has.
“These units had previously been stationed at training grounds in the temporarily occupied territories. Now they’ve been moved closer to the frontline, with many already deployed to forward positions and engaged in active assaults,” Voloshyn explained.
Both sides are now striking 5–7 km deep into what’s referred to as the “dead zone” behind the frontline. The Russians are covertly moving their assault groups, deploying them in small numbers (1–2 soldiers at a time) to prepare for larger offensives.
Specifically, in the Huliaipole sector of the front, Russian forces have resumed active assault operations, including motorcycle-borne attempts to break through toward the village of Malynivka.
“They’re currently in the stage of deploying these groups to forward positions for new storming operations,” Voloshyn noted.
As previously reported, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 186 combat engagements were recorded along the front on June 16 alone.
Source: Southern front heats up: number of clashes rises by third – military
