Ukrainian military equipment destroyed near Urozhainoe
The village of Piatykhatky has recently become one of the main battlefields of the Ukrainian offensive in the Zaporozhie region. After two weeks of heavy battles, the Ukrainian military declared control of the settlement on the morning of June 19.
Piatykhatky is a small village which had the population of only 300 citizens in 2001 and is located 25 kilometers to the west from Orehov. However, today this is an important settlement, control of witch could pave the way for further advance of Ukrainian forces.
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After the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) managed to advance in the area of Lobkovoe and the village came into a gray zone, Ukrainian forces launched another attack on the village of Piatykhatky located nearby. The large-scale offensive operations began on the night of June 17, after the rains ended and the AFU regrouped their forces during the pause. Heavy battles for control of the village have been ongoing for several days. Already on June 18, Russian officials in the Zaporozhie region claimed that the village was captured by the AFU but on the next day it was repelled by Russian forces.
As of the evening of June 18, Russian forces reportedly left their positions in the village which is located in the lowlands and took defence on the heights located nearby. Piatykhatky came into a gray zone.
On the morning of June 19, Ukrainian units shared new video claiming control of the village. The 128 mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is reportedly fighting there. However, in several hours, forces of the Russian 429th regiment of the 49th diviaion, which includes the Storm-Ossetia battalion flag of which is seen fallen on the Ukrainian video, reportedly resumed the battle and repelled the AFU from the settlement.
The AFU are now holding control of the western part of the village, equipping firing points in the local houses and trying to develop an offensive on the Russian strongholds in the area.
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Several days ago, the death of Aivengo Tekhov, Deputy Commander of the Storm-Ossetia battalion was confirmed in Piatykhatky. Today, the reports about his death are actively used by the Ukrainian media to spread lies that the entire battalion was allegedly destroyed.
Most likely, the battle for the village of Piatykhatky is ongoing and neither of the warring sides is holding the full control of it. The Ukrainian military is unlikely to remain in the village which is heavily shelled by Russian artillery from the commanding heights, that’s why the AFU are expected to continue their advance to attempt to capture some more advantageous positions.
Ukrainian forces fighting in the village:
Control of Piatykhatky would allow the AFU to attempt attacks on the eastern flanks of the Russian grouping deployed near the village of Kamenskoe on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River. If the AFU advance westward, Russian forces are likely to retreat from the area in order to avoid their cut off. The village of Piatykhatky is located on the road to Vasilievka, an important node on the shore of the Kakhovka water reservoir, where the AFU are expected to attempt their attack; if they manage to strengthen the stronghold in Piatykhatky.
The loud claims of the Ukrainian military from the Zaporozhie front lines rarely correspond to reality. As it was the case in the villages south of Valikaya Novoselka, Russian forces are following the so-called ‘active defence’ tactics. After prolonged heavy battles, Russian units retreat and allow the Ukrainian groups to enter the settlements in lowlands where they further launch counterattacks and inflict heavy losses to the advancing Ukrainian units. The main goal of the Russian military is not to save control of some small villages in the area but to destroy as many enemy forces as possible before the AFU reach the main lines of the Russian defence in the region.
Ukrainian losses near Urozhainoe:
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The situation remains unchanged on other frontlines in the Zaporozhie regions, where the AFU continue attempts to break through Russian defences but only suffers heavy losses.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, three Ukrainian attacks were repelled in the area of Valikaya Novoselka over the past day. One tank, 12 armored combat vehicles, as well as a foreign-made combat vehicle were destroyed.
Two Ukrainian attacks were repelled in the area of Malaya Tokmachka. As a result, two Ukrainian tanks, 10 infantry fighting vehicles and two armored combat vehicles were destroyed.
Total Ukrainian losses in this direction during the day amounted to more than 100 Ukrainian servicemen, three tanks, 10 infantry fighting vehicles, 14 armored combat vehicles, four cars, two self-propelled artillery installations “Gvozdika”, as well as howitzers D-20, “Msta-B” and D-30.
