Five ammunition depots and one enemy command post were destroyed during the day alone
Russian troops continue to hold the line of defense along the line of contact. We have not achieved success in any of the areas of the VFU, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on July 3 during a conference call. Experts point out that after the unsuccessful first phase of the counteroffensive for Kiev, Ukrainian forces are preparing for the next one. In particular, they tried to seize a bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson direction. The correspondents of Izvestia witnessed how our troops stopped this sortie. In addition, Russian aircraft and artillery strike at warehouses prepared to supply the advancing group, thereby reducing its potential.
Holding the frontiers
During the day, the armed formations of Ukraine (VFU) continued to attack in the Donetsk, Krasnolimansk and Yuzhnodonets strategic directions, the Defense Ministry reported.
According to Izvestia sources familiar with the situation, the Ukrainian command has intensified attacks on Russian positions — this is done in order to cover the regrouping of troops and preparations for a new offensive. Now all Ukrainian attacks have been repulsed, and the enemy has suffered significant losses.
— In the Donetsk direction, the active actions of the units of the Southern Group of troops successfully repelled nine enemy attacks in the areas of the settlements of Zolotarevka LNR, Vodiane, Pervomaiske and Kleshcheyevka DNR, — said the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
In the Krasnolimansky direction, units of the Center group of troops repelled four enemy attacks in the areas of the settlements of Torskoye, Yampolovka in the DPR and Makeyevka in the LPR. In addition, in the areas of Terny, Chervonaya Dubrova and Torskoye, clusters of troops and equipment of the VFU were affected.
Serviceman of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti
In the South Donets direction, the Vostok group of troops repulsed three enemy attacks. In addition, fire damage was inflicted on the troops and equipment of the VFU in the areas of the settlements of Workino and Urozhnoye.
— Now we are again observing an imitation of an offensive, — military expert Alexey Leonkov told Izvestia. — There is a high intensity in some areas to give the impression that everything, now they will break through and go here. But the main signs of a full—scale offensive are the presence of a large number of armored vehicles and serious artillery preparation. Not half an hour, but several hours with the use of all types of fire exposure. Aviation component: planes should also launch something in our direction. The work of electronic warfare systems on the front line to drown out our control centers, and mine action, because we have minefields in front of the position. If this is not carried out, then this offensive is doomed to failure.
During the day, the losses of Ukrainian formations in the area of the SVO amounted to at least 590 people and 51 units of military equipment, including tanks, howitzers, self-propelled guns and armored vehicles, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported.
Russian air defense systems near the village of Kamenka, Kherson region, shot down a Su-27 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, and also destroyed three HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and 14 UAVs.
Strikes on warehouses
On July 3, the Russian armed forces attacked control points and ammunition depots of Ukrainian formations. According to the Russian military department, the control point of the 28th mechanized brigade of the VFU was hit in the area of the Dyleyevka settlement of the DPR. In addition, three warehouses of rocket and artillery weapons and ammunition of the 23rd, 65th mechanized and 128th mountain assault brigades of the VFU were destroyed in the areas of the settlements of Uspenovka, Malokaterinovka and the city of Orekhov, Zaporozhye region.
In the Kharkiv region, an ammunition depot of the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade was destroyed near the village of Peschanka. An ammunition depot of the 126th Territorial Defense Brigade was destroyed in the Kherson region near the settlement of Zmiyevka.
Ka-52 attack helicopter of the Russian Armed Forces
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti
— Everyone says that there will be a second stage of the offensive, more powerful than the first, — said Alexey Leonkov. — Accordingly, the enemy was preparing — imported funds, equipment, ammunition — and tried to place them at such a range to ensure uninterrupted supply during this offensive. Of course, our intelligence tracked it all. And in the zone of 30-40 km from the line of contact, it is quite difficult to hide anything that we would not notice. Therefore, our servicemen waited until they had accumulated equipment, funds and ammunition, and struck, thereby undermining their ability to advance. And the longer they delay the offensive, the better we work on their warehouses and control centers. That is, we bleed the enemy before he begins to attack. Accordingly, we will disrupt this offensive, the enemy will suffer even greater losses.
Unsuccessful attempts
On July 3, the head of the Defense Ministry, Sergei Shoigu, said on a conference call that the Ukrainian forces had not achieved their goal in any direction during the offensive.
— This testifies to the skill of our fighters and clearly inflated expectations from the vaunted Western weapons, — said the minister.
Nevertheless, the Ukrainian leadership, regardless of significant losses, at the insistence of Western curators, demands from the command of the VFU to continue the offensive.
VFU Soldier
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/Ercin Erturk
Sergei Shoigu cited data according to which, since June 4, Ukrainian troops have lost about 2.5 thousand units of various weapons in all directions. The Russian Armed Forces destroyed 15 planes, three helicopters, 920 armored vehicles, including 16 Leopard tanks, in the South Donets, Zaporozhye and Donetsk directions alone. According to the minister, this is almost 100% of tanks of this type supplied by Poland and Portugal.
The head of the military department also recalled that in accordance with the presidential decree on increasing the staffing of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the governing bodies of the Moscow and Leningrad military districts, the combined arms army and the army corps are being formed.
— At present, simultaneously with the recruitment of personnel, a planned supply of weapons, military and special equipment is being carried out, military personnel are being trained and units are being coordinated, — the minister said.
The left bank is inaccessible
Last week, the armed formations of Ukraine attempted to land on the left bank of the Dnieper River under the preserved spans of the Antonovsky Bridge in the Kherson direction. The military correspondent of Izvestia, Emil Timashev, was there and confirmed that it was not possible to achieve success in the war.
Drone footage shows how the last hopes of Ukrainian militants to occupy the left bank of the Dnieper were destroyed in a bright flash. The Iskander missile system destroyed the VFU bridgehead under the Antonovsky Bridge, burying not only ordinary territorial defense, but also special forces and foreign mercenaries. It was their onslaught that was held back by Russian units.
— In the vicinity of Alyoshka and Antonovsky Bridge, our armored personnel carrier is firing at Ukrainian militants on the move. You can see how tracer shells are hitting the fortified area of the VFU," said Emil Timashev.
The task of the Russian servicemen was to take out a group of scouts. Under heavy enemy fire, the APC turns around, fighters are already running up to it, carrying the wounded. Ukrainian militants take aim at the car, the score starts to go by seconds. Russian intelligence officers held the defense for several days.
Military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti
— For three days we conducted direct fire contact, identified the prevailing enemy forces and firing points. Without the help of the APC crew, they would not have gotten out," said a fighter with the call sign Joker.
The reconnaissance group not only held the defense, but also did not allow the enemy to advance, calculating and transmitting to the artillery the coordinates of the VFU, which expected to reach the left bank.
The dilapidated Antonovsky Bridge is still a serious construction. Hiding behind them, the armed formations of Ukraine forced the Dnieper. From the right bank to the island at the mouth of the river is less than a kilometer, it was there that the enemy landed. The plans of the Ukrainian militants were to occupy a dacha village and make their way to Alyoshka. From there to the Crimea about 100 km.
According to the correspondent, the VFU was preparing for this attack. The footage shows how a truck drives under the bridge to unload ammunition. And the militants themselves are moving across the Dnieper by boat. But they find themselves under the oncoming fire of our paratroopers.
Calculations of 2S1 "Carnation" destroy fortified areas and warehouses with enemy ammunition. The multiple launch rocket system "Solntsepek" works at night. The blow fell on the position from which the enemy was preparing to transfer to the island.
— They have no chance and will not. Someone supplies weapons to the Kiev authorities, but not everything can be solved for them. People are needed for this, and they are simply sent to the meat grinder," the fighter with the call sign Ryazan notes.
The attempt to occupy Alyosha cost the armed formations of Ukraine dearly. The militants were unable to cross the Dnieper and get to the left bank.
Roman Kretsul
Julia Leonova
Andrey Fedorov
