Agthatbuilds said:

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Private PoopyPants said:

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Ukrainian pilots fly between the ground and power lines. pic.twitter.com/r4hWmBk609

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 27, 2022

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That's a very confusing video. I think the perception is off and angles are playing a trick on the eye. The second one looks like it flies through the power lines.

I think the camera is on a hill and the area below the choppers is a ditch

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Edit. Checked again, this is correct. Theres a weird optical effect on the first one that makes it look like it passes in front of the second closest pole on the right but it doesnt. The lines drop down a hill and you can see the lines continuing far away and they are way down on a valley floor.

Private PoopyPants said:

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Not seeing anything much from Ukrainian news outlets of this counteroffensive. Probably have been told to stay quiet for now.

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Agreed. The only news I'm seeing is through OSINT folks. Hopefully all this smoke leads to something more than just a limited attack.

Regarding the recent bombings in Crimea:

"one American official later briefed on the attacks said Ukrainian commandos and partisan fighters had used an improvised array of weapons, explosives and tactics in the strikes. 'It’s all homegrown,' the official said, 'We did not get any advance notice.”https://t.co/S5bNA8NJlY pic.twitter.com/V2d7tpRfMG

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) August 29, 2022

This makes sense why today was the counterattack date.

Today marks 8 years since Russia, despite the agreement and waving the white flags, attacked Ukrainian military retreating from the besieged Illovaysk.

— WarMonitor🇺🇦 (@WarMonitor3) August 29, 2022

//FLASH TRAFFIC// KHERSON / 1500 UTC 29 AUG/ Sources indicate that Ukrainian forces have opened a broad based offensive against Kherson. pic.twitter.com/0YgOJMaLiS

— Chuck Pfarrer (@ChuckPfarrer) August 29, 2022

Wonder if we are watching the end of the war. Russia might be close to complete collapse if they are in full retreat as it's being suggested in some of the tweets. It won't just be Kherson. They might be lucky to hold onto Crimea at this point.

Russian telegram channels saying loss of Kherson may be imminent, Russians are taking huge casualties.

Stupid Russians shouldn't be in Ukraine pic.twitter.com/qS0gM6N2WN

— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) August 29, 2022

Wonder if this is a real message?

#Kherson local sources tell me there's a massive traffic jam leading to the ferry crossing near #antonovskybridge consisting of military & civilian vehicles. Also power is out all over Kherson city. #SlavaUkraïni #FreeKherson

— NLwartracker (@NLwartracker) August 29, 2022

FriscoKid said:

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Wonder if we are watching the end of the war. Russia might be close to complete collapse if they are in full retreat as it's being suggested in some of the tweets. It won't just be Kherson. They might be lucky to hold onto Crimea at this point.

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I think we're far from that culminating point. The East is by far the hardest to retake. If the Ukes have any hope of retaking the south, I think they will need to take out the Kerch bridge.

Liberating the West bank is one thing. Getting forces across the river and pushing the counter offensive into other parts of Southern Ukraine/Crimea are completely different.

Odd, but my Spotify playlist (classical) just started Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.

I wasn't expecting this counterattack. I was skeptical that the Ukes had the troops to do it. This is a difficult conflict to gauge each sides actual strength.

Russian milbloggers also confirm Ukrainian tactical progress in Kherson Oblast. Look like Ukrainian forces have probably had a local rush through Russian defenses on the Inhulets River bank and are trying to consolidate their success.

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) August 29, 2022

Quote:

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Wonder if this is a real message?

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The part about Shoigu appears to be correct.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11156383/Russias-defence-minister-Sergei-Shoigu-lined-Putin-ridiculed-soldiers.html

Romania as a model for transitioning the Ukrainian air force to F-16s. DO IT

Explosions reported in occupied #Kherson this morning#UkraineFrontLines #RussiaUkraineWar pic.twitter.com/6vgPzB3KSs

— Ukraine Front Lines (@EuromaidanPR) August 29, 2022

Kherson now#UkraineFrontLines #RussiaUkraineWar pic.twitter.com/vmvOmUrbF5

— Ukraine Front Lines (@EuromaidanPR) August 29, 2022

aezmvp said:

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Liberating the West bank is one thing. Getting forces across the river and pushing the counter offensive into other parts of Southern Ukraine/Crimea are completely different.

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Sure, but the goal shouldn't be for that to happen tomorrow after taking back Khersan could be focused around Melitopol. Theoretically they may never need to cross that river in combat.

Not knowing who the author is, I went and looked. It's a supposedly a Moscow media bureau chief. So it would be really bad for him if he posted this and it not be true.

One can hope.

Gordo14 said:

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aezmvp said:

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Liberating the West bank is one thing. Getting forces across the river and pushing the counter offensive into other parts of Southern Ukraine/Crimea are completely different.

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Sure, but the goal shouldn't be for that to happen tomorrow after taking back Khersan could be focused around Melitopol. Theoretically they may never need to cross that river in combat.

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Yes and hopefully they can/have built up the logistical depth and firepower to do those two things at once or quickly in succession. They would want to wrap this up by mid September to early October when the rain starts again and the Russians can't get supplies in easily. Then you cut/pound logistical and infrastructure support to Crimea and force a massive problem for the Russians. That's a very big ask. The Ukes have bought themselves a lot of time in which to arm, train and build their resources. Hopefully they can pull it off!

aezmvp said:

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Liberating the West bank is one thing. Getting forces across the river and pushing the counter offensive into other parts of Southern Ukraine/Crimea are completely different.

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one important strategic event is that by liberating the west/north bank of the Dnipro- that completely saves Odessa from any potential Russian strike from the West along the Black Sea.

At least gives them more buffer. Doesn't stop the guided missiles from the water.

Definitely. Just highlighting that yes it's a still long way from the end goals of this conflict, but it's a critical step that gives them momentum. The Dnipro river can be circumvented, so they don't need a river crossing.

LMCane said:

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aezmvp said:

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Liberating the West bank is one thing. Getting forces across the river and pushing the counter offensive into other parts of Southern Ukraine/Crimea are completely different.

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one important strategic event is that by liberating the west/north bank of the Dnipro- that completely saves Odessa from any potential Russian strike from the West along the Black Sea.

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Not to mention putting Sevastopol in range for HIMARS launching from south of Kherson. Makes it much more difficult for them to continue to reload the cruise missiles on their subs that are being used to attack western and southern Ukraine

Is the Kerch bridge within HIMARS range from the southern tip of Kherson?

Edit: Google is telling me Kherson to Kerch is roughly 330km, so I'm assuming the direct distance must be well within HIMARS range.

Russian air defences are reportedly being activated in several locations in occupied Kherson

— WarMonitor🇺🇦 (@WarMonitor3) August 29, 2022

The HIMARS rockets Ukraine has only has a range of 65-70km.

You're right. I'm thinking ATACAMS.

Ukrainian forces are all making gains on the Zaporizhzhia frontline in some areas I won't specify yet.

Remember they said "Southern offensive"

— WarMonitor🇺🇦 (@WarMonitor3) August 29, 2022