Control over the "small sky" allowed Russian units to disrupt the supply of the Ukrainian garrison
Russian troops are advancing along the entire line of contact and are conducting active assault operations in the areas of Konstantinovka and Krasny Liman. In the latter, according to the military, the Ukrainian garrison found itself in a difficult situation: the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are running out of ammunition, there is not enough water and food. Russian units are advancing in the northwestern part of the city. During the day, they occupied five enemy strongholds and cleared 52 buildings of Ukrainian armed formations, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The units of the Zapad group of forces gained an advantage in the air and on the ground, exhausting the Ukrainian Armed Forces garrison. According to the participants of the fighting, some enemy groups are trying to leave the city in civilian clothes, including women's clothes.
The offensive in Konstantinovka continues
Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with graduates of military educational institutions that the Russian army is advancing on all sections of the line of contact.
He noted that the Russian military is practically "getting" Konstantinovka to the DPR.
— In the same place (at the front. — Izvestia) the guys are hammering every day. They go on and on every single day. And we will get where we need to go," the president stressed.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Evgeny Biyatov
Image source: iz.ru
Units of the Southern Group of Forces continued their offensive in Konstantinovka. Our attack aircraft destroyed scattered enemy groups in the southwestern part of the city during the day, clearing 128 buildings from the enemy, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 90 military personnel, 22 vehicles, a field artillery piece, three ATVs, an electronic warfare station, 29 ground-based robotic complexes and 22 control points for unmanned aerial vehicles, the ministry added.
The opponent is not allowed to exhale
A difficult situation has developed for the enemy in Krasny Estuary. Over the past day, the assault detachments of the 25th Army continued to conduct an offensive in this city, destroying scattered units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Units of the 67th Motorized Rifle Division in the northwestern part of the city captured five enemy strongholds and cleared 52 buildings of Ukrainian armed formations, the Russian Defense Ministry said on June 23.
— The guys are acting smoothly. As soon as the enemy opens up, fire is immediately inflicted on him," said the head of the unmanned systems forces of the 31st motorized Rifle regiment of the Zapad group of forces with the call sign Zhdan.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
Image source: iz.ru
The reconnaissance and strike contour is well organized in the area of the city, he noted. Our drone operators detect the enemy and transmit the coordinates to the gunners, who instantly strike.
An important role is played by the fact that Russian drone pilots have gained air superiority in the area of the Red Estuary.
"The enemy's movement is minimal," Zhdan emphasized. — We don't let him exhale completely, they're afraid to move around. Both day and night, we constantly monitor the airspace over the Krasny Estuary.
Attacking Russian units are reliably covered by their UAVs: both reconnaissance ones that monitor the operational situation and find targets, and anti-aircraft devices. The assault groups, Zhdan noted, are accompanied by air defense drones in case of the appearance of Ukrainian hexacopter bombers of the Baba Yaga type. This helps protect stormtroopers from air strikes.
The rapid delivery of water, food, ammunition and other cargo to the front lines is provided by domestic Thunder cargo drones. Such tactics make it possible to minimize the movement of foot groups and hide the maneuvers of attacking forces from the enemy, the soldier explained.
Photo: TASS/Alexander Polegenko
Image source: iz.ru
If necessary, the Thunder can also act as a bomber — this device carries at least 5 kg of explosives. Ammunition of this power is enough to destroy prepared firing points of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in houses or buildings.
In addition, Russian troops are actively working on enemy communications, preventing attempts to restore crossings across the Seversky Donets. One of the videos of the Russian Ministry of Defense shows footage of an FPV drone destroying a bulldozer. The machine was building a temporary river crossing near the capital bridge, which had previously been destroyed by VKS aircraft.
Our troops destroyed up to 35 militants in the city, two cars, an ATV, four robotic complexes, an ammunition depot and 11 control points for unmanned aerial vehicles, the military department noted.
Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters disguise themselves as women
The units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to the Russian military, cannot withstand the constant pressure and are trying to leave the city on their own.
— There were cases when the militants themselves changed into civilian clothes, — Zhdan laughs. — But the military is immediately visible. Your gait gives you away, and it doesn't matter what you put on — a skirt or something else. Our pilots are experienced, they have already been trained, and they can see civilians right away.
Ukrainian prisoner of war Yuri Kontrobai, captured by our fighters in the city, described the situation in Krasny Liman as very sad in a video released by the Ministry of Defense.
— Many guys, realizing this, start to leave their positions and are doing the right thing, — he said. — Because our leadership does not help in any way, but only aggravates our situation in the Red Estuary. Ours are losing ground, and I was going to do the same, but I didn't have time.
Photo: TASS/Evgeniy Maloletka
Image source: iz.ru
He explained that getting out of the city is now "almost impossible."
— I think that we have already lost the Red Estuary and there is no way to get it back, — Yuri Kontrobai admitted.
Key Excellence
The success of infantry operations in modern combat largely depends on the state of affairs in the so—called small sky - at low altitudes, where tactical UAVs operate, said military expert Yuri Lyamin.
"Gaining dominance there gives you a key advantage over the enemy," he explained. — You get the opportunity to find your opponent and strike when he doesn't see you. The assault troops moving forward receive all the necessary supplies on time and without delay. Our divisions operate in the most comfortable conditions. The enemy's defense, on the contrary, is fragmented and poorly coordinated.
The enemy will not be able to resist for a long time in such a situation — the Ukrainian garrison is waiting for destruction, military expert Vasily Dandykin told Izvestia.
— In the near future, our troops should complete the liberation of the city — it is not as big as Konstantinovka, — he believes. — We have deprived the garrison of supplies and reinforcements, and we are not allowing the enemy to show their face — in such conditions, only focal resistance is possible. The lack of ammunition and basic necessities also has a sad effect on its combat capability.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Evgeny Biyatov
Image source: iz.ru
Nevertheless, the cleansing of urban areas will take some time, the expert noted.
The situation of the Ukrainian garrison deteriorated significantly after the destruction of the Seversky Donets River crossing near the village of Mayaki last week, which disrupted all enemy logistics in the Krasny Estuary area, Vasily Dandykin also noted.
The events of recent days show that the struggle for Krasny Estuary increasingly depends not only on the actions of the assault units on the ground, but also on control over the "small sky". Having gained a significant advantage here, our troops were able to complicate the supply of the Ukrainian garrison and limit its maneuverability. In such circumstances, the initiative in this sector of the front is increasingly being transferred to the Russian side.
Bogdan Stepovoy
