Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin
[ColonelCassad] Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporozhye direction.
At night, the Armed Forces of Ukraine made an attempt to break through the defense of the RF Armed Forces in the Zaporozhye direction with forces of up to 1,500 people and 150 armored vehicles.
The enemy was detected in a timely manner, and a preventive strike was delivered by artillery, aviation and anti-tank weapons.
The enemy was stopped in all four directions and withdrew with heavy losses.
As a result of a two-hour battle, the enemy lost 30 tanks, 11 infantry fighting vehicles, and up to 350 personnel.
The Ukrainian reserve forces, specially trained for the implementation of the breakthrough, did not fulfill their task.
The total losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for June 7 in the Zaporozhye direction were:
Tanks - 33
infantry fighting vehicles - 28
armored combat vehicles - 38
self-propelled guns - 3
Personnel - 945
The broadcast of hostilities in Ukraine, including the current attempts to attack the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporizhia direction, as usual, is covered in Telegram - https://t.me/boris_rozhin - if you are interested, subscribe.
More from Boris Rozhin:
More from Russian military correspondent Aleksandr Kots:
"Leopards" let off the leash
During the offensive on the Orekhovsky sector of the Zaporozhye front, the enemy used the German Leopard-2 main battle tanks for the first time. Drone footage of these characteristically angular, massive machines has already made the rounds on social media. It is still not known for certain whether the Russian military managed to knock out or damage the brainchild of the "gloomy Teutonic genius." But the fact remains - Western heavy armored vehicles made their debut in the NWO.
Previously, many experts assumed that Kyiv would not dare to use valuable and expensive tanks as a battering ram to break into the Russian defense line. It was believed that the Leopards, which have an advantage in firing range over Russian vehicles, would be used as sniper tanks, and in case of danger, they would immediately retreat to the rear. However, Kyiv decided otherwise.
Judging by the footage of objective control, German tanks were advancing in the first echelon, covering the BMP with infantry. The fact that the Ukrainians did not let Soviet-made vehicles go forward may indicate that there are very few of them left in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. And throwing Leopards-1 into the gap, which Kyiv was promised as many as 150 units, does not make sense. They "do not hold" even outdated ATGMs, not to mention 125-millimeter tank shells. Probably, these vehicles are used by Ukraine for shooting from closed positions, just as Russia uses the ancient T-62 and T-55.
However, even with Leopards-2, Russian vehicles are unlikely to engage in tank duels. The main enemy of the German "cats" are the Russian "birds" from the army aviation. A tank crawling out from under the umbrella of its own air defense is a typical prey for a helicopter. And, fortunately, we have enough turntables.
Turntable being the Russian term of endearment for helicopters
Yet more from Russian military correspondent Aleksandr Kots
Attack through the eyes of the enemy:
“On the battlefield it is very difficult. Our artillery and aviation are working, but the Russians are also working. It is difficult for us and for them. The armed forces are advancing. But not as fast as we would like.”
A soldier from one of the brigades participating in the offensive described it in an interview with the Washington Post as "continuous heavy fighting."
Yet more, again from Russian military correspondent Aleksandr Kots:
Blitzkrieg obviously did not work out.
Blitzkrieg obviously did not work out. As Budanov said there, everything will be fast and inevitable. But something went wrong. It didn't work out quickly.
I have said many times that for 15 months the enemy did not take a single large city in battle. Yes, he skillfully used our mistakes, but did not gnaw out the victory with his teeth. And then there was a chance, and what do we see?
The enemy expected that with precision strikes he would destroy our logistics and headquarters, and then, at the sight of the first leopards, we would run headlong.
But we did not lose control of the troops - everything is in its place. There is no disorganization within the units either - we are giving a powerful rebuff. Despite the fact that Kyiv throws its trained reserves into battle, including one of the best brigades - the 47th, the same shock fist that was trained specifically for this mission.
But ours adequately meet the first wave of the offensive. Yes, with losses, but without fuss and confusion. Inflicting a large-scale fire defeat on selected enemy formations.
Both the mining of the fields and the layered defense worked, when you can retreat to more advantageous positions without losing strategic territory. Yes, it's hard, but these days our army shows how to fight for our land, for every piece of it. Against all odds. Like 80 years ago. Handsome!
Two more from the V Kontakte page of Russian military correspondent Aleksandr Sladkov:
⚡Statement by the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation General of the Army Sergei Shoigu
◽Today at 1.30 am in the Zaporozhye direction, the enemy attempted to break through our defenses with the forces of the 47th mechanized brigade numbering up to 1,500 people and 150 armored vehicles.
◽The enemy was timely detected by reconnaissance forces, and a preventive strike was delivered by artillery, aviation and anti-tank weapons.
◽The enemy was stopped in all four directions and retreated with heavy losses.
◽As a result of a two-hour battle, the enemy lost 30 tanks, 11 infantry fighting vehicles, and up to 350 personnel. Thus, the enemy's specially trained reserve forces for the implementation of this breakthrough did not fulfill their task.
◽During yesterday's day of combat operations, on June 7, the enemy lost 945 personnel, 33 tanks, 28 infantry fighting vehicles, 38 armored fighting vehicles, 3 Krab self-propelled artillery mounts and other weapons.
Zaparozhie: AFU continue to actively attack
The enemy is moving forward in waves, trying to break through our first line of defense. They began their offensive at 01:00. Armored vehicles approached, landing on armored personnel carriers, foreign equipment, and we destroy personnel, burn armored vehicles, the remaining tanks withdraw and load newammunition.
They take on armor new infantry and again go on the attack. The enemy has captured one of our positions. This is a remote position of outposts, that is, standing up to the main line. They did not reach our first line. As a rule, certain units land in front, which deprive the enemy of surprise when approaching. But to capture is not the same as to keep.
And in this war there is such a nuance. Artillery immediately begins to strike at those positions that they left - now our artillery is unwinding them at these positions. Enemy losses. I am now quoting a reconnaissance sergeant of the 42nd division: “Infernal! But we are normal."
Normal, but during the night up to 1000 enemy shells flew into the positions of the companies.
As for Bakhmut, the enemy was also advancing. There the paratroopers of the 31st brigade and the 106th division resisted, they did not give up any heights to the enemy. So that there was no fire control of Artemovsk by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. All this is behind us.
So, guys... I bow to them. Hold on.
From the V Kontakte age of Tatyana Vasilyeva
The Armed Forces of Ukraine used German Leopard-2 tanks for the first time
The Armed Forces of Ukraine used German Leopard-2 tanks for the first time during offensive operations south of Orekhov in the Zaporozhye region. This is reported by BILD military observer Julian Röpke.
According to him, today's attack is not a reconnaissance in force, but the beginning of a full-scale counter-offensive, since Kyiv has not brought these tanks into battle before.
Röpke notes that Leopard 2s lead the advancing column, followed by British and American armored vehicles.
"Apparently, the German tanks met fierce resistance from the Russians. Several vehicles, apparently, were blown up by mines or came under artillery fire. What type of vehicles are burning is not yet clear."
Herr Röpke, write it down: all types of Western cars are burning with a special shitty fire ... Don’t thank for the sensation, we give ....
Wilhelm Röpke was a German economist and social critic, best known as one of the spiritual fathers of the social market economy
More from Donetsk DNR News V Kontake page
The offensive has begun
⚔"The offensive has begun. We have strength. To the peasants in the trenches of steadfastness. We do not sleep." - Sladkov
✊Information from the trenches: "ROD, BUT STAND!"
As I understand it, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are increasing the blows of the Hamers on our rear, wewe are stepping up strikes with Geraniums on the accumulation of Ukrainian equipment.
Well, the mutual active work of artillery is underway.
I wrote here the day before about the unsatisfactory work of our artillery in Zaporozhye. But now they say from the trenches that our "gods of war" hit a lot and accurately, they work well.
⚔The attack of the enemy on the Zaporozhye front is in full swing: the tanks are trying to break through the fire of the Russian troops.
▪There is a battle near the city of Orekhov: between Malaya Tokmachka and Novodanilovka.
▪Under the cover of massive fire, enemy columns drive and shoot in the direction of our positions. They cannot go fast because of the minefields and darkness of the night.
▪Our artillery is firing at them intensively, the enemy is also hitting with howitzers and MLRS towards our positions, trying to support the breakthrough of equipment.
▪He is probably trying to reveal the tactics of the night battle, the approach of our reserves, etc.
▪At the same time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine tried to strike at the city of Tokmak from the Himars MLRS. According to reports, the strike was repelled by the air defense forces of the Russian army.
Military commissars of the Russian Spring