Every day, Ukrainian troops continue to advance by 0.5 to 1 kilometre. It is virtually impossible for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to conduct a counter-offensive at a fast pace due to the huge number of defensive structures and minefields of the Russian occupiers.

Moreover, the enemy has an advantage in numbers, especially in artillery. The occupiers also have a significant advantage in the ability to supply ammunition. This was stated by the Commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi in an interview with the ВВС.

According to him, the Ukrainian military is conducting a defensive operation and, against the backdrop of a defensive operation, is conducting offensive actions in several areas around Bakhmut. Syrskyi stressed that the military would like to get a very quick result, but in the current reality, this is almost impossible.

"I can tell you about my group, about my direction. And I want to say that the main forces of the Russian army are concentrated in my direction around Bakhmut, in the Liman direction. This area is full of engineering barriers, and many units have been fighting defensive battles there for the past year. In fact, the entire vast area is prepared in terms of engineering, and there are many strongholds. That's why all the advances are really not going as fast as we would like," said Syrskyi.

The commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also stressed that the enemy has an advantage in the number of personnel and the number of artillery pieces. The occupiers also have a significant advantage in the ability to supply ammunition. Therefore, there is a situation where the Ukrainian Armed Forces can respond with one shot to seven or eight shots from the Russians.

Syrskyi noted that despite this advantage, the Ukrainian Armed Forces carefully plan their operations, so the Ukrainian army is able to achieve success. This is confirmed, in particular, by the daily progress of Ukrainian defenders at the front.

"Every day we advance by 0.5 to 1 km. Unfortunately, we have no advantage over the Russians in terms of the number of our troops. And in the number of our artillery units," the general said.

Syrskyi also added that the Ukrainian army needs to attack now. If this is not done, the enemy may seize the operational initiative.

"Therefore, against the backdrop of a general defensive operation, we are conducting offensive actions in several directions, creating a separate advantage in forces and means in rather limited areas. And then we use our advantage. And most importantly, it gives a very big moral boost to our servicemen," explained Syrskyi.

Earlier it was reported that the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine cannot be called a failure. Ukrainian defenders are doing their job, but they are forced to pave their liberation path through enemy minefields.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL, on 19 July, the Ukrainian Defence Forces conducted counter-offensive operations in at least three frontline areas and achieved new successes. These are the areas of Kupyansk and Kreminna, Bakhmut, and the Avdiivka-Donetsk line.

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