- Sputnik Africa, 1920, 10.04.2023
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate and defend the inhabitants of the Donbass region, where people have been suffering from a blockade and regular attacks by the Kiev regime's forces since 2014.

'Surovkin Defense Line' Proves Stumbling Block For Ukrainian Army, Says Ex-Estonian Spy Chief

© Sputnik . Konstantin Mikhalchevsky / Go to the mediabankA Russian serviceman taking part in Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine. File photo
A Russian serviceman taking part in Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine. File photo - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 21.06.2023
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Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had been unsuccessful. He explained that the Ukrainians failed in all directions of their counteroffensive and suffered heavy casualties.
Former Estonian Foreign Intelligence chief Rainer Saks linked the failure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's (AFU) recent counteroffensive to a large number of defensive structures and Russia's superiority in the air.

"Russia considers it very important to hold the southern part [of the front], so more defensive lines have been built there. Ukraine tried to break through the Russian defense line in three places, but not with very energetic maneuverable units," Saks told Estonian media.

According to the Donetsk People's Republic's (DPR) former security minister, Victor Pinchuk, Russia has built several defense lines in the southern sector of the special military operation, and the strongest of them is the third, the "Surovikin line", which the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) have not even reached.
Sergey Surovikin was commander of Russia's Joint Group of Forces in the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. In January he was replaced by Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting with military correspondents in the Kremlin in Moscow on June 13, 2023. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 13.06.2023
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
Putin: Ukraine is Now Unsuccessfully Attacking in Four Directions
The term "Surovikin line" was reportedly coined by the Western media at the end of 2022 to describe the Russian defensive structures that would cause great difficulties for the AFU to break through.
According to Russia's Defense Ministry, Ukrainian troops launched an offensive in five sectors of the Donetsk direction on 4 June but failed to achieve their goals.
Ukraine has touted its coming offensive since late 2022. It was first scheduled for the spring, then rescheduled to the summer. The Ukrainian government said the postponement was because of a shortage of weapons, all while pushing its Western donors to supply progressively heavier arms, including tanks, drones and fighter jets.
As pointed out by Russian President Putin, the attempted counteroffensive of 16 June resulted in Ukraine losing 186 tanks and 418 armored vehicles.
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