The capture of the city will help complete the second stage of the operation to liberate Donbass, military experts explainOver the past three days, more than 700 Ukrainian servicemen and over 300 weapons have been destroyed in the Soledar area, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on January 13.
The department told about the covert maneuver of the Russian Airborne Forces and the role of electronic warfare forces in the battles for the city. Experts note that the capture of Soledar will help complete the second stage of the operation to liberate the entire Donbass and opens the way for the Russian army to Seversk, Slavyansk and Kharkiv region.
Resistance node
The establishment of full control over Soledar makes it possible to cut off the supply routes of Ukrainian troops in Artemivsk, located southwest of Artemivsk, and then block and take the remaining units of the VFU into the boiler, the military department explained.
"The capture of Soledar became possible due to the constant fire defeat of the enemy by assault and army aircraft, rocket troops and artillery of the Russian troops grouping. They continuously inflicted concentrated strikes on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the city, prohibiting the transfer of reserves, the supply of ammunition, as well as attempts to withdraw the enemy to other lines of defense," said Igor Konashenkov, an official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Viktor Antonyuk
Image source: iz.ru
During the liberation of the city, the fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed three aircraft and a helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Forces. Combat crews of the group's air defense systems in the Soledar area shot down nine multiple rocket launchers HIMARS, Alder and Hurricane.
In the battles for Soledar, airborne units made a hidden maneuver and successfully attacked the positions of the VFU on the move, occupying the dominant heights and blocking the settlement from the north and south sides. And the forces of electronic warfare suppressed the enemy's control system, and also disrupted the use of Ukrainian UAVs.
"The complex of measures implemented by the Russian group of troops ensured the successful offensive actions of the assault detachments to liberate Soledar," Igor Konashenkov said.
According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, over the last three days alone, more than 700 Ukrainian servicemen and more than 300 units of VFU weapons were destroyed in the area of the city.
Military expert Vasily Dandykin explained to Izvestia why the liberation of Soledar is a great strategic success.
Photo: TASS/Alexander River
Image source: iz.ru
— We have taken an important node of resistance on the second line of defense in the Donbass, which goes from Seversk to Artemovsk and beyond, — he said. — This is a great success of all Russian units that participated in the battles. The victory in Soledar will help to complete the second stage of the operation to liberate Donbass. Now the road to the north opens up in front of us — towards Seversk, Slavyansk and the Kharkiv region.
Artemovsk, located to the south, has already fallen into an operational environment, which, if the Ukrainian forces do not leave, should turn into a full-fledged boiler, Vasily Dandykin stressed.
— Ukrainian formations are very much afraid of such operations, because they end up with heavy losses among personnel and equipment. Boilers, except for Mariupol, we have not done since 2015, the last one was in Debaltseve, the expert recalled.
The expert also noted the psychological significance of the liberation of Soledar for the Russian army.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
Image source: iz.ru
— We seize the initiative and return to victories, — he is convinced. — This is very important for our army. After the autumn tactical failures, soldiers and officers will increase their self-confidence. This is especially important for the mobilized, who got to the front at a difficult moment and were forced to retreat and hold on, gritting their teeth, despite the bad news.
The "hurricane" is over
On January 13, the Ministry of Defense told other details of the battles with Ukrainian formations in the SVO zone.
"In the Kupyansk direction, as a result of artillery strikes of the Western Military District on units of the Ukrainian 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade in the areas of the settlements of Starch and Berestove, Kharkiv region, up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen, three armored combat vehicles and three cars were destroyed," said the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Viktor Antonyuk
Image source: iz.ru
In the Krasnolimansky direction, the artillery of the Pskov Airborne Troops unit defeated the units of the 80th and 95th airborne assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The total losses of the enemy amounted to more than 40 servicemen killed and wounded, four armored personnel carriers and three pickups.
In the South Donets direction, the Baltic Fleet marines destroyed more than 20 Ukrainian servicemen, two armored fighting vehicles and two cars.
Operational-tactical, army aviation, missile troops and artillery of Russia during the day hit two ammunition depots of the 107th rocket artillery brigade and the 46th airmobile brigade of the VFU, a hangar with weapons and military equipment of the 108th Theroborona brigade, two warehouses of rocket and artillery weapons of the 28th and 65th mechanized brigades of the VFU, 117 artillery units in firing positions, as well as 105 areas of concentration of troops.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
During the counter-battery struggle, a combat vehicle of the Hurricane multiple launch rocket system, two Grad MLRS launchers, a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, three 2S3 Acacia self-propelled howitzers and three D-20 Ukrainian howitzers were destroyed. Russian air defense shot down three Ukrainian drones in a day.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 372 aircraft, 200 helicopters, 2,876 unmanned aerial vehicles, 400 anti-aircraft missile systems, 7,495 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 982 multiple rocket launchers, 3,820 field artillery and mortars, as well as 8027 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed, Igor Konashenkov listed.
The postponement has been preserved
On January 13, reports appeared in the media about the cancellation of the deferral from mobilization for citizens who are raising three minor children. Later, these reports were not confirmed. The Federation Council stated that the relevant order of the Chief of the General Staff has not been canceled and continues to operate.
Article 18 of the Law "On Mobilization Training and Mobilization" provides for a delay for citizens who have four or more dependent children under the age of 16. However, after the announcement of partial mobilization, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Army General Valery Gerasimov, decided to grant a postponement for those who are raising three children.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Alexey Kudenko
Image source: iz.ru
— Nothing prevents improving the legal status of citizens, — Oleg Zherdev, co-founder of the Association of lawyers of law enforcement agencies "Guardia", told Izvestia. — The decision of the General Staff does not worsen it, but improves it. The number of families with four children is much less than families with three children. The circle of persons to whom this postponement applies is expanding.
It is not in the authority of the Chief of the General Staff to change the legislation, the lawyer added. However, deputies are not always able to make amendments promptly, while the General Staff can issue an order quickly.
— These instructions can be both permanent and temporary, — Oleg Zherdev added. — The Chief of the General Staff believes that citizens with three children are not subject to conscription. And for military enlistment offices and other mobilization bodies, this decision is mandatory. And at the same time, it is accepted quickly, clearly, transparently. In the army, it is customary to bring orders promptly. And our law-making bodies do not always promptly adopt relevant amendments. If the Chief of the General Staff decides so, it means that the Ministry of Defense has considered that this stratum of citizens has no influence on the country's defense capability.
Tank - dangerous direction
The Russian Defense Ministry told about the servicemen who showed courage and dedication in the battles.
The group of the Guard of Senior Lieutenant Anton Kuznetsov was engaged in equipping positions when Ukrainian nationalists launched an artillery strike on it using foreign-made howitzers. Anton competently distributed the forces of the group and within a short time made fortification equipment of the shoreline of the water barrier, as well as in tank-hazardous areas.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
Image source: iz.ru
Thanks to this, the enemy could not move quickly to our defensive lines. Having reduced the pace of advance, the units of the VFU found themselves in the zone of destruction of our artillery and were destroyed.
The company of Senior Lieutenant Artur Lesnikov provided communications for the battalion-tactical group of Russian troops. When the Ukrainian militants fired at our servicemen, part of the equipment went out of order. Signalmen promptly began to restore it. Arthur was wounded, but continued to lead the staff. Thanks to the dedication, courage and decisive actions of Lesnikov and his subordinates, the enemy failed to disrupt the management of our units. Following the results of the battle, the nationalist units were thrown back to their original positions.
Senior Lieutenant Artur Lesnikov was awarded the Suvorov Medal for the courage and heroism shown during the combat mission, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Andrey Fedorov
