War Tide Turning? Ukraine Marines Repel Russian Forces, Inflict Major Damage on Enemy Along Dnipro River

The advancement of Ukrainian forces at the Dnipro River bridgehead has faced a standstill, but troops recently inflicted significant damage in the Russia-occupied region and now some Russian troops are now refusing direct orders to attack due to the incurred losses, according to sources.

Situated in the Russia-controlled Krynky region on the left bank of the river, the Dnipro River bridgehead saw Ukrainian Marines deployed in October 2023, a decision initially criticized as foolhardy.

A December 2023 New York Times report labeled it a "suicide mission," describing the battle as "murderous."

Soldiers and marines participating in river crossings spoke of the offensive as “brutalizing and futile,” with Ukrainian troops facing adversity on the river banks and in the water.

Conditions were described as challenging, with no suitable places to dig in, often contending with marshy islands and meadows transformed into mud-filled quagmires, The Times reported.

Contrary to earlier predictions, recent developments suggest a gradual shift in favor of Ukraine. Forbes recently reported that Russian forces had to deploy a tank regiment to recover damaged vehicles from the active combat zone in the Krynky area. The intensity of Russian losses around Krynky was underscored by the dedicated tank battalion.

In the past three months, failed counterattacks by Russian forces resulted in significant losses, with Ukrainian forces employing drones and artillery kill-zones. While Ukrainian forces lost 33 vehicles, Russian formations in Kherson, including the 18th CAA, lost at least 163 tanks, fighting vehicles, howitzers, rocket launchers and trucks, Forbes reported.

The condition of Russian troops at the bridgehead has declined to the point where better-trained paratroopers and naval infantry are refusing to continue the Dnipro assault, as reported by Kyiv Post.

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The press secretary for the AFU’s Joint Command South, Nataliya Humenyuk, mentioned a shift in troop composition but noted their reluctance for frontal assaults, considering themselves “elite troops.”

Despite the lack of advances in the Dnipro River bridgehead, Humenyuk claimed Ukraine has been conducting local counterattacks, asserting that Russian forces face over 50% losses in every ground assault. However, these claims remain unverified, lacking supporting evidence according to Kyiv Post.