MOSCOW, January 14 — RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz. Russian troops occupied Soledar. As noted in the Ministry of Defense, this will allow the offensive to continue in the Donbass. Other sections of the thousand-kilometer front are also being prepared for intense battles. About the situation in the conflict zone — in the material of RIA Novosti.
A springboard for attack
The operational pause that the parties took in October-November is coming to an end. Artillery duels have intensified at the front, attacks by sabotage groups have become more frequent, opponents are constantly conducting reconnaissance by combat.
The media warn of a possible offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Where exactly is unclear.
Training of those mobilized by elite airborne units at one of the training grounds in the Zaporozhye region Image source: © RIA Novosti / Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
There are three most likely options. Firstly, the border of Kremennaya — Svatovo. This is a kind of crossroads: to the east — the LPR, to the west — the Kharkiv region, to the south — the DPR, to the north — the Belgorod region. Having captured it, the Ukrainians will be able to advance on Severodonetsk, Lisichansk, Rubezhnoye and will actually cut the Luhansk People's Republic into two parts.
In addition, Svatovo is an important railway junction through which the Russian grouping is supplied in this area.
Positional battles have not subsided here since the fall, the parties are making trial attacks in the gray zone, conducting disturbing artillery fire. The front section is well fortified. In the fields, anti-tank ditches, wire fences, rows of concrete gouges, trenches stretch to the horizon. Construction equipment goes under the Matchmaking endless stream.
"They are unlikely to get through here," says an officer of the 2nd Army corps of the LPR with the call sign Karat. — We have a serious advantage in artillery. If they move, they will fall right under the guns. Now they are trying to find weaknesses in our positions. There are a lot of mercenaries there, Polish speech is constantly on the radio. In principle, they do not represent anything special. Ukrainians themselves can teach anyone to fight."
Blow on Volnovakha
The second promising direction for the APU is from Ugledar to the southwest of Donetsk. Kiev still holds this city at the dominant height. Ammunition and reinforcements from Kurakhov and Velikaya Novoselka are constantly brought there. If the APU manages to concentrate enough forces and resources here, they can try to hit Volnovakha, liberated in the spring, and cut the Donetsk—Mariupol highway.
Military training of the mobilized in the Zaporozhye direction Image source: © RIA Novosti / Evgeny Biyatov
Russian troops control the southern suburb of Ugledar — Pavlovka — and are trying to gain a foothold on the outskirts of the settlement. At the same time, units of the 1st Army Corps of the People's Militia of the DPR are advancing step by step in Maryinka near Donetsk. If the weseushnikov is knocked out of there, the way to the Coal Mine from the northeast will open.
"There is a serious grouping there," says an officer of the 1st NM DNR with the call sign Klim. — Tanks, infantry, artillery — the AFU has no shortage of people and equipment. We are waiting for them to start active actions in order to catch them on the counterattack. They are constantly trying to take our drones to themselves. And without copters, it is difficult to conduct aerial reconnaissance."
A difficult situation
In the Zaporozhye direction, the main goal of the APU is undoubtedly Energodar and ZAES. According to local authorities, Ukrainians are preparing for a lightning dash across the Dnieper.
"The river has abruptly shallowed — and this is not for nothing," says Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the administration of the Zaporozhye region. — The reduction of water runoff is artificial, organized by the Kiev authorities through the gradual closure of hydroelectric dams on the dams of the Dnieper cascade in the upper reaches, including the Kremenchug and Dneproges."
Also under threat is the city of Tokmak, a major transport hub, a potential springboard for the APU offensive on Melitopol and Berdyansk. Ukraine wants to return to the coast of the Sea of Azov, reach the border with Crimea and dissect the southern grouping of Russian troops.
Refueling of a column of military equipment of a separate battalion of material support of the Airborne Forces in the Zaporozhye region Image source: © RIA Novosti
However, it is not easy to do this: there are several well—fortified defense lines in the Zaporozhye region.
And it is very difficult for the Kiev regime in the Donbass. As stated in the Ministry of Defense, the release of Soledar will block Artemovsk. Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers will be in the cauldron.
In addition, a road opens from the Artem agglomeration to Konstantinovka, Kramatorsk, and in the future Slavyansk — the "heart" of the Donbass group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Both sides are preparing for fierce battles.
