Battle Of Neskuchne

In early June 2023, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine launched a counteroffensive against Russian forces occupying its territory with a long-term goal of breaching the frontlines. Efforts were made in many directions, primarily in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, among others.

Planning for a major Ukrainian counteroffensive had begun as early as February 2023, with the original intention being to launch it in the spring. However, various factors, including weather and late weapon deliveries to Ukraine, delayed it to summer, as it had not been deemed safe to progress.

Russia had begun preparing for the counteroffensive since November 2022 and had created extensive defensive infrastructure, including ditches, trenches, artillery positions, and landmines intended to slow down the counteroffensive. Ukraine met well-established Russian defenses in the early days of the counteroffensive and have since then deliberately slowed down their pacing in order to assess the extent of Russian defenses, demine territory, save troops, and exhaust Russia's military resources. As of 25 September, they made incremental gains by capturing 370 km² of territory, less than half of what Russia captured in all of 2023. In total, Ukraine recaptured 14 villages in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, with a total pre-war population of around 5,000.

The counteroffensive is widely regarded as a crucial moment in the war. Ukrainian officials have warned that the counteroffensive will take time and that casualties will be high.

Almost five months since its start, prominent Ukrainian figures and Western analysts have begun giving negative assessments of the success of the counteroffensive; statements by Ukrainian general Valerii Zaluzhnyi in early November 2023 that the war had arrived at a "stalemate" were seen by observers as an admission of its failure, and followed more definite assessments made by analysts, especially with regard to operational success, from several weeks earlier. So far, the initial objectives of reaching the Sea of Azov and splitting the Russian grouping in southern Ukraine in two have not been achieved and a breakthrough in 2023 has come to be widely considered unlikely.

Background

State of the war

Following the Kherson and Kharkiv counteroffensives in late 2022, fighting on the front lines largely stagnated, with fighting mostly concentrated around the city of Bakhmut during the first half of 2023.

Russian defenses

Russian fortifications in Ukraine had been described as the most "extensive defensive works in Europe since World War II" by the '' Center for Strategic and International Studies'' (CSIS). Construction to create military infrastructure had begun as early as November 2022 in order to entrench Russian troops into Ukrainian territory. By April 2023, Russia built an long defense line in preparation for a Ukrainian counteroffensive. The final lines of fortifications established by Russia prior to the counteroffensive amounted to being nearly long, extending from the border with Belarus to the Dnieper delta. Defenses primarily consisted of ditches, dragon's teeth, trenches, artillery positions, anti-vehicle barriers, and prepared firing positions for vehicles. Russia had also created extensive minefield regions across the frontline regions with anti-tank mines. An estimated of territory had been mined, which also included Ukrainian mines laid in the Donbas region during the War in Donbas. In early May, Russian forces had constructed a dam and moat around the captured city of Tokmak which is located near the frontline of the counteroffensive.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russia constructed roughly three lines of defense: a long frontline from Vasylivka to Novopetrykivka on the Zaporizhzhia–Donetsk oblasts border, a long second line of defense from Orlynske to just north of Kamianka, and "a constellation of disconnected fortifications surrounding larger towns". The first line contains multiple counter-mobility barriers and infantry trenches backed by artillery positions located nearby. The second line is similar to the first, allowing Russia to set up a new front while also offering protection against flank attacks. The third line contains strategically positioned fortifications meant to serve as a contingency to preserve Russian positions in case of a Ukrainian victory. It is predicted to be the most heavily fortified frontline region. In Kherson Oblast, defenses were created in order to protect Crimea and the Dnieper, while trenches in the road are located every few kilometers. The purpose was to prevent amphibious warfare. In Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces constructed field fortifications apart, combined with the urban terrain. Approximately 76% of the fortifications observed were estimated to have been created pre-2022, with the quality of them being doubted due to relative disuse over time. These fortifications center around Olhynka, Donetsk, Makiivka, and Horlivka.

Prelude

Planning

By February 2023, Ukrainian and Western officials began discussing plans for a potential spring counteroffensive, while Ukrainian troops were receiving military training from NATO and anticipating Western equipment, primarily M1 Abrams and Leopard 2 tanks. Ukraine had also formed multiple new units in early 2023. Originally these were all supposed to be equipped with western supplied weaponry but some units like the 31st Mechanized Brigade and the 32nd Mechanized Brigade have been seen equipped with older weapons such as the AKM assault rifle and the T-64 tank.
Another factor that had caused the counteroffensive to be delayed was the 2022–2023 Pentagon document leaks, in which sensitive US intelligence regarding the Ukrainian military was leaked by April, causing Ukraine to alter some of their military plans as a result. However, Ukrainian officials have disregarded the leaks and stated that they were still planning for the counteroffensive. The following month, Ukraine had begun wrapping up preparations for an anticipated counteroffensive and would not explicitly announce when the counteroffensive would begin.

Despite the general expectation that the counteroffensive would take place in spring, it did not. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained that Ukraine had not received sufficient Western supplies and that Ukrainian military training from the West had not been completed yet. By May, Zelenskyy had not deemed the counteroffensive to be ready to start, as the delivery of Western weapons had caused a delay; Zelenskyy had desired to start the counteroffensive "much earlier" and said that the delays had provided Russia with the opportunity to fortify their occupied territories. Furthermore, weather was a substantial factor delaying the counteroffensive; during that time period, Ukraine was undergoing its ''rasputitsa'' (muddy season), making travel difficult for vehicles such as tanks.

Shaping operations

In the months before the start of the counteroffensive, Ukrainian forces engaged in "shaping operations" to test Russian defenses and weaken logistics and supply chains deep inside Russian-occupied territories. According to Western media, Ukrainian forces had built up an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers for the counteroffensive, organized into twelve brigades. Three of these were trained in Ukraine, and the other nine were trained and equipped by the United States.

Beginning in May 2023, Ukrainian forces engaged in "localized" counterattacks on the flanks of Bakhmut, as part of the larger battle in the city. On 12 May Ukrainian forces forced the Russians out of the southern bank of the Berkhivske Reservoir, about northwest of Bakhmut, and claimed further gains of in the north and southern suburbs of Bakhmut later in the month. Another large-scale Ukrainian counterattack operation began in and around Bakhmut on 5 June, when it was reported that Ukrainian forces had retaken part of the village of Berkhivka, north of Bakhmut. Ukrainian forces claimed to have advanced hundreds of meters in multiple areas around Bakhmut's flanks throughout early June.

On the Zaporizhzhia front, starting on 3 June, the Ukrainian 37th Marine Brigade engaged in a slow but consistent offensive action around the frontline settlement of Novodonetske in the Donetsk Oblast. Without armored support, the marines were able to push back the Vostok Battalion of the DNR's people's militia mostly through the use of artillery. The Ukrainian advance was further aided by the use of armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to rapidly transport marines to the front, and then withdrawing out of Russian artillery range. Also on 3 June 2023, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine was ready to launch a counteroffensive. The next day, Ukrainian officials declared an "operational silence" to avoid compromising military operations.

Counteroffensive

Start date

The exact launch date of the counteroffensive is debated, with conflicting information coming from various official sources. Russia claimed to have thwarted a "large-scale offensive" on 4 June, and regarded that date as the start of Ukraine's counteroffensive. On 5 June, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense, Hanna Maliar, said that Ukrainian troops were "carrying out offensive actions" in several directions; earlier on, she and other officials had posted a social media video which carried the message that Ukraine would not announce the beginning of the counteroffensive. The Ukraine defence ministry posted a video containing as a caption the words, "Plans love silence. There will be no announcement of the beginning."

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), an American think tank and war observer, reported that Ukraine had launched "wider counteroffensive operations" beginning 4 June. Western media reported on 8 June that the counteroffensive had begun, however on 15 June Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine, stated the counteroffensive had not begun. This claim would be reiterated by Maliar on 20June.

Southern front

In the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine has pursued two main vectors of attack: one in western parts of Zaporizhzhia, aiming towards the strategic Russian-occupied city of Melitopol, and the other in eastern parts of Zaporizhzhia, aiming towards Berdiansk on the coast of the Azov Sea. Ukrainian general Oleksandr Tarnavskyi has led the southern effort of the counteroffensive for Ukraine.

Melitopol direction

Russia reported Ukraine had started a major offensive on the morning of 4 June 2023, in five areas of the frontline in the southern part of Donetsk. The Institute for the Study of War also reported that Ukraine had launched operations as part of "wide counteroffensive efforts". The following day, Ukraine confirmed an offensive was "taking place in several directions".

On 8 June, Ukrainian forces launched counterattacks around the city of Orikhiv, in the Polohy Raion of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, where Russian forces had constructed the Mala Tokmachka–Polohy defensive line. The attacks focused on the defensive line between the frontline villages of Robotyne and Verbove. Robotyne in particular is located less than from Russia's "main defensive line", and has been described by officials and analysts as "Ukraine's closest and most feasible path for breaking through the Russian line". Ukrainian forces broke through the first lines of defense, held by the 58th Combined Arms Army and GRU spetsnaz forces, causing Russian forces to fall back to a second line of defense. The Russian forces would later stage a counterattack, retaking the original line. The ISW noted that the Russian Southern Military District, in charge of the defense of this line, acted with an "uncharacteristic degree of coherency" in their defensive operations. Russian sources offered various explanations for the success of the initial defense, such as effective mining, air superiority, and the use of electronic warfare (EW) systems. U.S. officials and the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine suffered "significant losses" during the attacks. U.S. officials said the losses are not expected to affect the counteroffensive as a whole.

On 9 and 10 June, Ukrainian forces advanced in the area of Orikhiv with a mixture of Leopard tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles. Also on 10 June, Ukrainian forces made further gains south and west of Lobkove. On 11 June, the ISW reported that the 19th Motor Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army alongside the Tsar's Wolves militia, and the North Ossetian units " Storm Ossetia" and "Alania" were unable to hold onto Lobkove and withdrew, leaving the village in Ukrainian hands.

On 18 June, a Russian-installed official, Vladimir Rogov, announced that the village of Piatykhatky in western Zaporizhzhia had been secured by Ukrainian forces, which was confirmed with geolocated footage the following day. Ukrainian gains in Robotyne, which had begun early in the month and continued throughout June, culminated on 23 June, when Russian sources stated that Ukrainian forces broke through the Novodanylivka–Robotyne line and the Mala Tokmachka–Novofedorivka line, and that Russian reserve forces have been mustered from the rear in an effort to stop these advances. On 26 June, a spokesman for Ukraine's southern front forces, Valeriy Shershen, claimed that Russian forces fired a "chemical aerosol munition with suffocating effect" on Ukrainian positions in western parts of the Zaporizhzhia region. Ukraine claims that the wind blew the "aerosol munition" back to Russian positions.

For the entire duration of the counteroffensive, the 58th Combined Arms Army has been in charge of the defense of western Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Elements of the army have not been rotated or given leave since the counteroffensive began; this is part of a larger policy by Russian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov of "severely limit ng troop rotations across the front.

On 27 July, there were widespread reports of Ukrainian troops breaching Russian defenses near Robotyne, and launching a "significant mechanized operation" to push toward the village. The village would be the site of harsh urban combat starting from 11 August, with fighting spilling over into neighboring Nesterianka and Kopani.

On the 17 August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a frontline visit to the positions of 10th Operational Corps which included the Skala Battalion, the 46th Airmobile Brigade, the 116th Mechanized Brigade, the 117th Mechanized Brigade, and the 118th Mechanized Brigade

On the 23 August, the 47th Mechanized Brigade hung the Ukrainian flag over the village's administrative building signalling that the urban center of the town was under Ukrainian control. Full control over the village's southern outskirts would remain contested until around late August to early September when Russian troops reportedly withdrew.

The importance of Robotyne, and why it is so heavily contested, is that it marks the southern edge of the dense Russian minefield along the front, which has effectively bogged down Ukrainian forces and prevented the efficient use of Ukrainian armor. With the recapture of Robotyne, Ukrainian troops can now threaten the second line of Russian defenses. The second line of Russian defenses consists of prefrabricated concrete bunkers connected with a series of trenches and tunnels. Between the layers of fortifications consists of minefields and dragon's teeth, although much thinner than those north of Robotyne, and with marked pathways for Russian, and by extension, Ukrainian, units to use.

On 29 August, geolocated footage confirmed that Ukrainian forces advanced 5 km southeast of Robotyne and were de-mining the Robotyne area. Also on the 29th, Russian sources stated their situation in Verbove was "very dangerous". On 30 August, Ukrainian troops entered the northwestern outskirts of Verbove. On 23 September, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi announced that Ukrainian forces "have broken through in Verbove" and reiterated that the immediate goal for Ukrainian troops is the liberation of Tokmak, a major infrastructure hub for Russian forces. On 24 September, bloggers affiliated with the VDV reported that Ukrainian forces had entered the urban portion of Verbove as well as overrunning a series of defensive networks north and west of the settlement, however, the ISW assessed they are likely exaggerating to make the Russian ministry of defense seem more incompetent so that Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky, the commander of the VDV units around Verbove, can have greater independent command of the front-line. On 25 September, geolocated footage confirmed that Ukrainian forces were present in urban Verbove.

The importance of Verbove is that it is bordered on the north and the west by the second line of Russian defenses consisting of continuous prefabricated defensive structures, trenches, and ditches. Should Ukraine take the village that would entail them punching a hole into this second line, also known as the Surovikin line. Between Verbove and Tokmak is the third, and final, line of defense consisting of scattered defensive strong points and thin localized minefields.

On 23 September, the ISW assessed that Ukrainian forces had cleared out all Russian troops between Robotyne and Novoprokopivka, a settlement directly south of Robotyne. The same day, Kyrylo Budanov reported in an interview that the Russian 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade was "completely defeated" with the ISW assessing this as likely.

On 19 October Kostyantyn Mashovets claimed that Ukrainian forces advanced between 1.5-1.6 km into Russian defensive lines on the Robotyne direction.

Berdiansk direction

During 4 June, Ukraine made limited tactical gains in western Donetsk Oblast and eastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, including northeast of Rivnopil. The next day, Russian milbloggers reported accelerated Ukrainian offensive actions in eastern Ukraine, concentrated against the Novodonetske area, between Vuhledar (the site of an ongoing battle) and Velyka Novosilka in southern Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian forces made gains southwest of Velyka Novosilka and northwest of Storozheve. Although Ukrainian officials remained largely silent on the matter, there was speculation that these offensive actions were the beginning of the long-awaited counteroffensive. A Russian-appointed official in Zaporizhzhia Oblast said the Ukrainians aimed to break through Russian lines and reach the Sea of Azov.

On the morning of June 7, Ukrainian forces began storming Neskuchne. Neskuchne had become an outpost of the Russian forces, with a complex geography: a hill on one side, and the Mokri Yaly river on the other. On a hill below the river there was a school in which a Russian fortified point was located. The village had been under Russian control for more than a year and there were several attempts to retake it which all ended in failure. By June 11, after 4 days of fighting the village had been recaptured by the 7th Battalion Arei of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army of and the 129th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces. Serhiy Zherbyl led Ukrainian forces in the battle. Also on 11 June, Makarivka was retaken by Ukrainian forces. As Russian forces withdrew from Makarivka, Major General Sergei Goryachev, chief of staff for the 35th Combined Arms Army, was killed in an "enemy missile attack", according to a Russian milblogger. The Ukrainian military claimed Russian forces destroyed a dam on the Mokri Yaly river to slow down their advance.

Also on 11 June, the 68th Jaeger Brigade, alongside several territorial defence battalions had recaptured the village of Blahodatne marking the third settlement to be retaken by Ukrainian forces during the counteroffensive. The ISW assessed that on 10–11 June, Ukrainian forces had also recaptured Storozheve and Novodarivka in eastern Zaporizhzhia and western Donetsk but reiterated that claims of a Ukrainian "breakthrough" were premature.

On 12 June, it was reported Ukrainians had also liberated Levadne, near to Novodarivka.

In their 12 June report, the ISW assessed that fighting had shifted away from Orikhiv and reiterated claims of an advance along the Velyka Novosilka front. They also reported that Russian forces in the village of Rivnopil in southern parts of Donetsk Oblast are facing encirclement, but their exact situation is unclear. On 24 June, Maliar reported that Ukrainian forces had liberated Rivnopil, which was confirmed independently on the 26th.

On 4 July, a Russian source claimed that Ukrainian forces reached the outskirts of Pryiutne, a village 15 kilometres southwest of Velyka Novosilka. Pryiutne is a Russian logistical hub, being used to send supplies to all Russian forces on the Velyka Novosilka front. Should it fall, Russian forces would be forced to retreat to Staromlynivka and abandon several villages. Russian sources claimed Ukrainian forces reached the outskirts of the settlement on 9 July and that there was heavy fighting in that direction. On 14 July, Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces achieved a breakthrough towards Pryiutne, and also advanced 1.7 km towards Melitopol. On 22 July, Russian state media claimed that Rostislav Zhuravlev, a war correspondent for RIA Novosti, was killed by a cluster munition strike against Russian forces in Pryiutne. Additionally, another RIA Novosti reporter was injured, alongside two Izvestia reporters, but none of their injuries were life-threatening.

Starting on 16 July, there was heavy fighting in and around the village of Staromaiorske. Ukrainian soldiers, speaking to Reuters, said their plans for the battle went awry, and they had faced a much tougher and bloodier battle than they had expected. One marine stated that the Russians "methodically destroyed the roads", and created "pits that prevented driving in and out of the village, even in dry weather. Even walking was quite hard. You can't use flashlights at night, but you still have to advance." Despite these challenges, on 26 July, both Ukrainian and Russian sources confirmed that the village was recaptured by the Ukrainian armed forces. It was considered to be a critical component of Ukraine's strategy in the South, and Zelenskyy himself had announced its liberation. By the end of the fighting, the village was largely "ruined".

Fighting continued south of Staromaiorske, towards the village of Urozhaine which was being defended by the Vostok Brigade, commanded by Alexander Khodakovsky. ''The New York Times'' has called Urozhaine a "Russian stronghold", an important part of Russian defenses in the area. Fighting for the village began on 6 August, when Khodakovsky claimed Ukrainian forces had "temporarily" crossed the stream separating Staromaiorske from Urozhaine. The village would be the scene of heavy fighting as the Vostok Brigade was largely left to its own devices to defend the village. On 15 August, Khodakovsky stated that Russian forces had lost the settlement and on 16 August, Ukraine announced that they had liberated the village with members and officers of the 35th Marine Brigade posing for pictures in front of the village's WWII memorial, which was heavily damaged in the fighting. Russian forces retreating from the village took high casualties due to there only being one road out, the T0518, which Ukraine heavily shelled with both conventional and cluster munitions. Several Ukrainian drones captured footage of entire units being wiped out in artillery strikes along the road.

Khodakovsky claimed that following the fall of Urozhaine, Ukrainian forces are attacking south-east, towards the village of Kermenchyk instead of south towards the village of Staromlynivka, which '' Reuters'' has described as a "stronghold." On 30 August, Russian sources claimed Ukrainian forces advanced towards Volodyne, 6 km southeast of Pryiutne 7 km southwest from Urozhaine.

On 6 September, both Russian and Ukrainian sources reported that Ukrainian forces had broken through the defensive lines of Novodonetske, 11 km east of Urozhaine, and that Russian forces temporarily withdrew from Novomaiorske, 6 km east of Novodonetske, following very heavy Ukrainian artillery bombardment with cluster munitions. On 8 September, Russian sources claimed Ukrainian forces had entered the Northwestern outskirts of Novomaiorske. Starting on 9 September, Ukrainian forces have begun a concerted effort to cross the Shaitanka river directly north of Novomaiorske and Novodonetske.

On 14 September, Colonel Vasily Popov, commander of the 7th VDV Division's 247th Guards Air Assault Regiment, was killed in fighting in the Donetsk–Zaporizhia Oblast border area.

On 9 October, geolocated footage showed Ukrainian forces making gains towards Mykilske and Novofedorivka.

On 28 October, Ukrainian forces lost two more Leopard 2 tanks, with five totall knocked out during a week of fighting in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, all by Russian FPV drone strikes.

Eastern front

Oleksandr Syrskyi has overseen Ukrainian forces in the larger eastern campaign during the counteroffensive, especially in the Bakhmut direction. While Russian forces have been in defensive positions along the vast majority of the frontline during the Ukrainian counteroffensive, the Luhansk Oblast campaign was one of the few places where they were still on attack to divert Ukrainian forces.

Donetsk Oblast

On 8 and 9 June, Ukrainian forces advanced in the direction of Bakhmut, making gains of between 200 metres to . On 8 June Ukrainian and Russian forces reported that Ukrainian forces advanced along the western bank of the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas Canal west of Andriivka, and forced the Russian 57th Motorized Infantry Brigade and a Storm-Z penal battalion to withdraw from their positions on the canal. On 10 June, Russian milbloggers reported Ukrainian advances near Berkhivka and Yahidne

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