On June 4, 2023, Ukraine launched a counteroffensive. In military terms, the southern thrust was supposed to be the main effort, and its aim was to break Russia’s “land bridge” connecting mainland Russia to occupied Crimea. The operational concept focused on advancing south through western Zaporizhzhia Oblast – primarily from the Orikhiv axis toward Tokmak and ultimately Melitopol on the Sea of Azov. JOIN US ON TELEGRAM Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . Ukraine had