[dabigv13]

Yes they lost some very valuable bridging equipment and combat engineers in that attempt. Likely two brigades were involved and destroyed, one as first over and the second getting wrecked in the forests while waiting. They clearly have settled on this as a major axis of their next offensive and the ability of Ukraine to repulse it time and again is indicative of both their skill and determination and morale, and equally the stubborn Russian attitude and callousness to their immense losses.

That Ukraine is flying more and more ground support missions with their SU-25s in the last month in the Donbas is an interesting development. That Russia could be struck by the UAF (as claimed by their combat engineer and others) at this point in the war, at this crossing that was such a critical point for their offensive, is incredible and an indictment of the RuAF. They couldn't secure this airspace with their air superiority fighters? Did they not have adequate short range air defenses? Too scared to lose their fighters to Ukrainian air defense?

If Russia can't solve this problem, with the morale advantage Ukraine has, while suffering severe losses while Ukraine is only getting better and more Western equipment....the tide will be turning soon. Ukraine has won the battle for Kiev and the battle for Kharkiv, I think Donbas and Kherson will go their way soon. Can Russia hold the land bridge is what I wonder.

[dabigv13]

Yes they lost some very valuable bridging equipment and combat engineers in that attempt. Likely two brigades were involved and destroyed, one as first over and the second getting wrecked in the forests while waiting. They clearly have settled on this as a major axis of their next offensive and the ability of Ukraine to repulse it time and again is indicative of both their skill and determination and morale, and equally the stubborn Russian attitude and callousness to their immense losses.

That Ukraine is flying more and more ground support missions with their SU-25s in the last month in the Donbas is an interesting development. That Russia could be struck by the UAF (as claimed by their combat engineer and others) at this point in the war, at this crossing that was such a critical point for their offensive, is incredible and an indictment of the RuAF. They couldn't secure this airspace with their air superiority fighters? Did they not have adequate short range air defenses? Too scared to lose their fighters to Ukrainian air defense?

If Russia can't solve this problem, with the morale advantage Ukraine has, while suffering severe losses while Ukraine is only getting better and more Western equipment....the tide will be turning soon. Ukraine has won the battle for Kiev and the battle for Kharkiv, I think Donbas and Kherson will go their way soon. Can Russia hold the land bridge is what I wonder.