Ukrainian general reveals how Ukrainian troops stopped Russian advance in Voznesensk, Mykolaiv Oblast, early in full-scale war
Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev, former Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has stated that the defence of the town of Voznesensk in Mykolaiv Oblast at the outset of Russia's full-scale invasion was secured through swift troop deployment, intuition of commanders and the use of Neptune missiles.
Source: Naiev in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda
Quote: "I picked up the phone and called General Andrii Kovalchuk, telling him I was convinced the enemy would advance through Voznesensk. He agreed, saying he saw it the same way."
Details: Naiev explained that it was this commanders' hunch that led to the deployment of the 80th Air Assault Brigade, artillery and aircraft to Voznesensk, which enabled them to destroy some of the Russian equipment and stop their advance.
The general also mentioned that it was in Mykolaiv Oblast, during the defence of Voznesensk, that Ukrainian forces first deployed Neptune missiles against Russian warships intended to carry out a marine assault.
"In a week, [Ukrainian troops] crushed around seven [Russian] battalion tactical groups. At sea, [Russian] landing ships attempted to approach the shore for reconnaissance and that's when we launched our Neptunes for the first time. The first Neptune flew over a ship, though it scared the Russians so much that they moved the ships away from the shore," Naiev said.
The general emphasised that the deployment of Ukrainian forces to Voznesensk was no coincidence but rather a strategic decision made by the commanders.
Support UP or become our patron!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
As Russia inches closer to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, new Ukrainian region might soon be at war
Moscow said its troops had crossed into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and were conducting offensive operations in the region, a claim Kyiv quickly denied as 'Russian disinformation.' Russian troops have been pushing toward Dnipropetrovsk Oblast for months, trying to solidify the southern flank to capture Pokrovsk and the remaining parts of the adjacent Donetsk Oblast. Western military experts who spoke to the Kyiv Independent said it was clear that Russian troops would eventually penetrate the southeastern region. But they didn't expect either side to throw 'a significant amount of forces' in this sector, as the capture of Donetsk Oblast remains Moscow's main objective. Emil Kastehelmi, an analyst at the Finland-based Black Bird Group, confirmed that geolocation shows Russian troops entered Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in recent days. Russian troops will likely advance 'at least somewhat' deeper in the coming months, though it won't change the overall dynamic of the front line, he added. Kastehelmi believes that Russian troops could try advancing northwest from the southern flank of Pokrovsk to encircle the city that is already penetrated from the southern and eastern sides. 'The Russians probably have understood that if they want to make a proper encirclement threat, they need to widen the flanks and then continue operations near Pokrovsk,' Kastehelmi told the Kyiv Independent. The Russian Defense Ministry said on June 8 that its troops were pushing forward in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast — a region adjacent to Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts but have thus not seen combat actions. It added that the Russian military's 90th Guards Tank Division units had reached the western border of Donetsk Oblast and were thrusting forward into the industrial Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The Ukrainian military immediately denied the claim, saying that the fighting continued inside Donetsk Oblast, calling Russia's claims 'disinformation.' The Ukrainian monitoring project DeepState has put the proximity of Russian troops to the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast border at about two kilometers, yet painting that distance between the regional border and the alleged position of Russian troops as no man's land. The Kyiv Independent requested a comment to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces but has not heard back in time of publication. Even if militarily not as significant, the Russian penetration into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast would mean yet another Ukrainian region would be now a warzone. It could also help strengthen the Russian negotiation position as the U.S. continues to push both sides to hold peace talks to end the war at all costs. "If they [russians] find a weak spot, they will try to exploit it.' Russia had begun its long-expected offensive in April but has only made limited gains since then, besides opening a new front in the northeastern Sumy Oblast by occupying a number of border villages there. Kastehelmi from the Black Bird Group said that the Ukrainian defense of Pokrovsk would be compromised if Russian troops are able to widen their flanks, which would enable them to bring their support elements forward. 'It can mean that they may be able in the summer to threaten the remaining supply routes to the city in a way which makes it even more dangerous for Ukrainian units,' Kastehelmi said. Kastehelmi added that it would be 'an operational success' for Moscow if it is able to first expand its flank westward toward Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and then begin attacking northward, while also building on the eastern flank. But he stressed that Russian troops have not been the best at coordinating attacks, even if it looks 'doable' on paper. Jakub Janovsky, a Prague-based military analyst at the Oryx open-source project tracking Ukrainian and Russian equipment losses, said that it likely won't make 'any difference' if Russian troops advanced a kilometer or two into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. He added that Russia appears to be continuing to rely heavily on small infantry group assaults, either on foot or motorcycles, thus decreasing the use of Soviet-era BMP fighting vehicles or tanks. 'It seems more likely that Russia will focus on Donetsk Oblast,' Janovsky told the Kyiv Independent. 'But it's entirely possible that if they find a weak spot, they will try to exploit it.' Read also: Inside Russia, calls for peace come with conditions — and Kremlin talking points We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Britain should stay close to US to ward off Russian threat, says defence chief
Britain should stay close to the US to stand up to the threat from Russia, the Chief of the Defence Staff has said. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin's comments came after Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary general, told The Telegraph that people in Britain had 'better learn to speak Russian' if the Government did not drastically increase defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. Sir Tony, the head of the British military, appeared before the Commons defence select committee on Tuesday, where he was asked if he agreed with Mr Rutte's comments. He said such a scenario could be avoided by sticking close to America and strengthening Nato, telling MPs: 'We all accept that we are in this era of change. 'The piece that I think is so true and consistent for the UK is this security construct which is extraordinary and we should celebrate. 'We are a nuclear power. We are the world's largest and most powerful military alliance and we have as our principal ally the world's most powerful country on the planet. That's what keeps us safe. 'That's what we need to bind to, that's what we are doing, and that's what we need to strengthen so that we don't have the concerns that we are all going to be speaking Russian.' Sir Tony's remarks came as Rachel Reeves prepared to deliver her spending review, in which the Chancellor will set out the details of departmental spending, on Wednesday. However, Sir Tony, who steps down as CDS this autumn and will be replaced by Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, refused to say whether he supported an uplift in defence spending to 3 per cent and beyond. Sir Tony also acknowledged the changing relationship between America and the UK, now that Donald Trump has asked the UK to shoulder more of the burden in Europe. Asked if the US withdrew, either entirely or partly, its contribution to Nato, would Europe be strong enough to 'match' Russia, Sir Tony said it was. However, he also insisted that 'America is sticking with Nato'. 'America is going to continue to provide all of us in Europe with the nuclear security guarantee,' he said, while cautioning that the US has other priorities, from homeland security to the Indo-Pacific. 'We no longer have that guarantee in terms of conventional American help for the security of Europe,' Sir Tony said. 'That is a significant change and that's why you are seeing Europe responding.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Federal agencies were reportedly tracking foreigners visiting with Musk afraid they were trying to influence the mogul
Federal agencies were tracking foreign nationals who visited Elon Musk over concerns that they could influence the tech billionaire, according to a report. Agencies, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, were reportedly among the agencies surveilling foreigners who met with Musk at his U.S. properties in 2022 and 2023, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter. Officials at the FBI and others were briefed on the investigation, The Journal reported, which focused on overseas visitors from Eastern Europe and elsewhere 'who might have been trying to influence him.' The investigation, which predates the second Trump administration, did not result in any charges, the outlet reports. The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment when approached by The Independent. The FBI and representatives for Musk did not immediately respond. The names or the nationalities of the people being tracked was not revealed. Concern surrounded sensitive contracts Musk's five companies hold with the U.S. government and the 'unprecedented access' he has to top government officials, according to The Journal. Musk's own companies have been promised or awarded nearly $21 billion by the U.S. government since 2008, according to data analyzed by The Independent. The vast majority of the funding comes from federal contracts with SpaceX, the private space company Musk founded back in 2002. The company holds Defense Department contracts for satellite launches, including for the country's secretive National Reconnaissance Office. Reports surrounding Musk's foreign associates being tracked follow his dramatic exit from Washington, D.C., which saw his relationship with President Donald Trump implode last week. Musk helped re-elect the president by launching his super PAC last year. Eyebrows were raised by staffers within the America PAC over Musk's association with foreign nationals, according to The Journal. Sources familiar with the PAC's inner workings told the outlet that they brought in extensive vetting to 'keep foreigners out.' The Journal reported last October that Musk has been in regular contact with Vladimir Putin since 2022, raising security concerns. Musk was said to have spoken to the Russian president on the phone about business and geopolitical matters, officials with knowledge of the alleged conversations told The Journal. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed one telephone call took place between Musk and Putin where they discussed 'space as well as current and future technologies,' the outlet reported, but denied there had been regular conversations. When reached for comment from Musk at the time, a SpaceX spokesperson told The Independent the claims in the Journal were 'misleading' and 'unsubstantiated.'
