The capture of the settlement and neighboring Lisichansk will complete the liberation of the territory of the LPR, experts say
Units of the People's Militia of the LPR, with the fire support of the Russian Armed Forces, on May 29, wedged into the enemy's defense line in Severodonetsk and occupied a bridgehead in it, from which they continue to develop the offensive. Experts believe that the liberation of this city and neighboring Lisichansk will make it possible to successfully attack Slavyansk and Kramatorsk in the future. Also on Sunday, in an interview with TF1 TV channel, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the timing of the special operation in Ukraine was due to the order to categorically avoid strikes on civilian infrastructure.
Fighting on the outskirts
On Sunday, May 29, the press service of the Luhansk People's Republic reported that after securing the advancing troops in Severodonetsk, the fire of all means of Ukrainian artillery intensified on it. The militants are carrying out massive strikes even in neighborhoods where they know there are civilians. Earlier, the same pattern was observed in the neighboring town of Rubezhny. Retaliatory strikes are being carried out on the firing points of the Ukrainian formations.
Earlier, the LPR reported that the city is in an operational environment, the transfer of reinforcements to it from neighboring Lisichansk is difficult or blocked due to the destruction of bridges across the Seversky Donets and fire control over them.
Fighters of the LPR People 's Militia mortar unit near Severodonetsk
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Maxim Zakharov
— The offensive on the outskirts of Severodonetsk is now needed not only for the liberation of the city, — military expert Vladislav Shurygin noted in an interview with Izvestia. — Assault actions in this direction do not allow the enemy to withdraw forces from the agglomeration and constantly keep him in suspense. Hundreds and thousands of soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are chained in it, which the Ukrainian command lacks now on the approaches to Bakhmut. They are all under threat of an environment no less impressive than it was in Mariupol.
The successful capture of Severodonetsk and Lisichansk will complete the liberation of the territory of the entire Luhansk People's Republic, the expert added. In addition, this will free up a large number of troops that are currently involved, and will allow us to reach Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. But the liberation of settlements will not be easy: the APU will be knocked out of residential development, but there is an extensive industrial zone in Severodonetsk, for which they can try to cling, the specialist warned. In order to develop the offensive on Lisichansk, it will still be necessary to overcome the Seversky Donets, the bridges over which are destroyed or severely damaged, Vladislav Shurygin noted.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
Image source: iz.ru
The liberation of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, recognized by the Russian Federation as independent states, is an absolute priority, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with French TV channel TF1 on May 29. With regard to other territories of Ukraine where a military operation is being carried out, residents of these areas should decide their future, he said.
According to the minister, a special military operation takes such time primarily because the Russian military participating in the operation have orders to categorically avoid attacks and strikes on civilian infrastructure. Only military facilities, accumulation of equipment and manpower are subject to attacks.
Destruction of the arsenal
On May 29, the Russian Armed Forces continued attacks on the military infrastructure of Ukraine.
— High—precision long-range missiles of the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed a large arsenal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the warehouse territory of one of the enterprises in Krivoy Rog, Dnipropetrovsk region, - said the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Major General Igor Konashenkov.
According to the Russian military department, three control points, 25 areas of concentration of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, two artillery batteries in firing positions and five ammunition depots were also hit by air-based missiles during the day. The launcher of the Osa-AKM anti-aircraft missile system near Nikolaevka in the DPR and the radar station for detecting and tracking air targets near the village of Boguslavka in the Kharkiv region were also destroyed.
Ammunition of the People's Militia of the LPR
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Alexey Maishev
Operational-tactical, army and unmanned aircraft hit two control points and 53 areas of concentration of troops. In total, as a result of these strikes, more than 300 nationalists and up to 50 units of military and special equipment were destroyed, the Defense Ministry reported.
Russian air defense systems shot down a Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force over the Dnipropetrovsk region, as well as four unmanned aerial vehicles over the Kharkiv region and the territory of the DPR. In addition, a Ukrainian multiple rocket launcher "Smerch" was intercepted.
Rocket troops and artillery hit 62 control points, 596 areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment, as well as 52 positions of artillery and mortar units of Ukrainian nationalists.
—In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 183 aircraft, 128 helicopters, 1,049 unmanned aerial vehicles, 325 anti—aircraft missile systems, 3309 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 447 multiple rocket launchers, 1,722 field artillery and mortar guns, as well as 3,270 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed," Igor Konashenkov said..
Howitzer breakthrough
On May 29, the Russian Defense Ministry told about soldiers and officers who showed courage and dedication in battles.
The howitzer self-propelled artillery division of Major Adel Kilmukhametov carried out the task of destroying five enemy targets. The commander made an unmistakable decision on the order of shooting and their defeat, taking into account the possible options for the enemy's actions. As a result, the unit destroyed four platoon strongpoints, an artillery battery and two multiple rocket launchers.
— The professional actions of Major Kilmukhametov's division contributed to the creation of a gap in the enemy's defensive lines, as a result of which the settlement was liberated by the forces of the tank regiment from the armed formations of nationalists, — the Defense Ministry said.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexey Ramm
Image source: iz.ru
The motorized rifle regiment of Major Dmitry Mikhailov liberated the settlement from Ukrainian nationalists. Under his personal leadership, three BTR-80 units, one T-72 tank and a large number of foreign anti-tank complexes were destroyed.
Having defeated the enemy group, Dmitry Mikhailov organized the defense of the occupied positions. The nationalists tried three times to break through to the Russian motorized infantry, but to no avail. Under continuous mortar fire, the regimental units counterattacked and deprived the enemy of the opportunity to continue offensive actions. At the same time, there were no losses among the personnel.
The group of Sergeant Balta Tsyrenzhapov on an infantry fighting vehicle participated in the attack of firing positions of enemy artillery units. Approaching the settlement, the sergeant noticed a group of Ukrainian nationalists preparing an ambush for Russian servicemen. Despite the superior forces of the enemy, the sergeant joined the battle, during which three trucks and about 30 nationalists were destroyed. The courage and determination of Balta Tsyrenzhapov, as well as the professional actions of his subordinates, ensured the advancement of Russian units and the liberation of the settlement from armed formations.
Anton Lavrov
Andrey Fedorov
