Roman Svitan, a military expert and reserve colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, believes that it was necessary to start a counteroffensive on Melitopol in the Zaporizhzhia Region in the summer of 2023.

Since the Russians will continue to withdraw their troops there. 

He said this in an interview with TSN.ua.

"It was necessary to start a counteroffensive on Melitopol in the summer. It was a strategic mistake of our military and political leadership. Then we listened to our partners who warned about the dangers of this. If we had solved these problems in the summer, it would have been easier now. We could already be in Crimea. It is too late now, because the occupiers have drawn up many troops in the direction of Zaporozhye. The counteroffensive must be carried out now, because after a certain time it may be too late. Even with the means that the West provides us. We have lost the initiative in this direction. Now about the directions the counteroffensive should be decided by our military leadership," Svitan said. 

Occupation of Melitopol 

Russian terrorists captured the Ukrainian city of Melitopol in the Zaporizhzhia region at the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

The invaders abducted Melitopol's mayor, Ivan Fedorov, but he was later returned from captivity. 

Now the occupiers have turned the city into a military base and are using it for attacks on the unoccupied part of Ukraine. 

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  • The liberation of Melitopol: the US general named a priority and very important step for the deoccupation of the city