Fragments of what kind of ammunition are found at the sites of Ukrainian missile strikes in Kremennaya and NovoaydarFierce fighting continues on the outskirts of Kremennaya.
On January 25, the city experienced the most massive shelling since the beginning of hostilities. VFU simultaneously attacked three empty schools, spending several HIMARS missiles on each. About what kind of destruction American missiles leave behind, why the VFU is targeting social objects and what is the peculiarity of the close—range battles for this city - in the Izvestia report.
Fighting in the woods
The never-ending work of artillery is already clearly audible from the cities neighboring Kremennaya. Kremennaya itself has turned into a fort, which closes the entire large urban agglomeration from the almost fused Severodonetsk, Lisichansk and Rubezhny from the Ukrainian offensive. From the latter on the highway to Kremennaya is only 6 km. That is why the VFU is still trying to attack stubbornly.
— It's quieter today somehow, — the fighters comment on the situation in Kremennaya on the streets. — It was hotter last weekend.
The concept of local tranquility is relative here. I'm trying to track the number of shots and explosions in one minute. I get lost somewhere after 20. A volley is often heard, and the subsequent gap at the target, which indicates a very close work of artillery and tanks. Due to the peculiarities of the terrain, the battles here take place at short distances, which greatly distinguishes the situation at Kremennaya from, for example, Artemovsk.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Anton Lavrov
Image source: iz.ru
Extensive pine plantations around well mask military equipment even from drones. They also give an advantage to the side that is better equipped technically. On frosty nights in a transparent pine forest, it is impossible for infantry to hide from thermal imagers, and with their help, armored vehicles are very clearly visible. Therefore, the most modern Russian weapons are actively used here — Terminator tank support combat vehicles (BMPT) and the latest T-90M tanks.
Artillery is also constantly maneuvering along the frontline. On the roads, you can find a set of almost all of its types in service, both towed and self-propelled. Towed howitzers "Msta-B" and "Hyacinth-B", light D-30, tracked "Hyacinth-C" and "Carnations", batteries of "Grads", infrequent "Nones" of paratroopers come across the eye.
The established clear weather favors aviation, which plays an important role in defense. A pair of Russian Su-25 attack aircraft in a steep turn, almost standing on the wing, skipping over the city. They go so low that they instantly hide from view behind low two-story houses. So it is very difficult to catch them in the capture of portable anti-aircraft missile systems.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexey Maishev
Image source: iz.ru
After the flight of the Su-25, the sounds of heavy explosions are heard. It looks like the planes worked out nearby with assault bombs with deceleration. The front line runs 4-5 km from the city. After them, the second pair rapidly sweeps by, shooting off the stars of heat traps. Their footprints can be seen for a long time in a cloudless sky.
Already returning, we see a passage towards the front line and helicopters. A pair of Ka-52 and Mi-28N attack aircraft is accompanied by a transport-combat Mi-8AMTSh with suspended blocks of unguided missiles. In case of an emergency landing, he will immediately come to the aid of the crews.
Fire on schools
The Ukrainian authorities announced the death of dozens of Russian soldiers as a result of strikes on Kremennaya on January 25. I decide to personally check these statements. Several of the attacked objects are located at the exit from the city towards the enemy's positions, it is dangerous to go there by ordinary transport. The soldiers of the military police agree to give me a lift on their battered UAZ-Patriot.
Inside the newly renovated School No. 3 there are empty halls, classrooms with chairs on desks. In the intact part, it looks very much like a peaceful educational institution during the holidays.
— Here, after the impact, there was a blank from one rocket, but it was already taken away, — the fighter accompanying me shows on the floor in the hall of school No. 3.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Anton Lavrov
Image source: iz.ru
Another rocket pierced through all its floors and did not explode. The hole remained not only in the ceiling on the ground floor, but also in the floor, exposing communications in the basement. Around the building there are easily characteristic fragments from the warhead of the corrected M31 missiles. They are easily recognized by the diamond-shaped notch on the inside. There are no traces of the presence or everyday life of the military either here or at school No. 4.
Confirm the absence of the military and two local men who looked after the deserted school No. 4. Because of the dangers, the school year was interrupted here with the approach of the front. The buildings were unfrozen and preserved. Specifically, in order not to provoke strikes, access to the territory for any cars was blocked. As a result, no one suffered from these senseless arrivals.
— There are only a few kilometers to the Ukrainians, there are no fools to concentrate people in such conspicuous buildings within the range of even conventional artillery, — one of the fighters of the Russian troops in the city told us.
The War on Memory
— It seems that in recent days Ukrainians have some kind of hysteria, - Yulia Nazarenko, acting head of the administration of the Kremen district, told Izvestia. — They are firing purposefully to intimidate people, to erase their memory and attachment to this territory. If there are no schools, education for children, then they will inevitably wonder whether it is worth staying here.
The massive blow on January 25, 2023 fell on social facilities, Yulia Nazarenko added. The building of the fire department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations was destroyed. Schools No. 3 and No. 4 have been completely destroyed and cannot be restored, as well as the music school, which hundreds of children attended.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Anton Lavrov
Image source: iz.ru
From the beautiful building of the music school in the center of the city, only the facade in the classical style with half columns stood. Remnants of tools are visible in some places. The wreckage was still being dismantled by local residents, talking about the missing two guards who were inside during the strikes. Just a few days ago, we parked our car nearby. Now this place is dissected by fragments from American missiles.
— School No. 3 has just been repaired by our bosses from the Astrakhan region. We worked under shelling, made a beauty, replaced the roof, windows, — says Yulia Nazarenko. — The second one was also repaired. Previous attacks in it also knocked out windows and damaged the roof. Now we have lost four out of five schools.
According to the administration, 5 thousand houses were damaged in Kremennaya and neighboring villages. The acting head dreams of driving Ukrainian troops 100 km away from the city. This will make the area inaccessible to strikes and will allow establishing a peaceful life for almost 20 thousand residents and refugees who remain here despite everything.
Bloody Morning
It is clearly impossible to do without pushing the enemy away from the territory of the republic. At eight o'clock on Saturday morning, January 28, Ukrainian troops deliberately struck a hospital in the rear village of Novoaydar. In the village, where artillery cannonade is usually not even heard, 14 patients and doctors were killed, more than two dozen more were injured. The arrival of high-explosive high-precision missiles of the HIMARS MLRS fell in the early morning, when most of them were still asleep.
The hits completely destroyed a wing of one of the buildings of the district hospital of the urban-type settlement. Several rounds of ammunition lay almost at one point. You can see the funnel from the last hit, which had already fallen on the ruins of the building. The explosions even severed the rather big trunks of pine trees next to him.
By nightfall, all search and rescue operations were completed. The dead and injured were removed from the wreckage and distributed to surrounding hospitals, including Lugansk. Other buildings of the medical institution continue to work. In the glowing windows opposite the ruins, in the surgical department, people in civilian coats are visible.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Anton Lavrov
Image source: iz.ru
— All the victims were treated right there, on the second floor in surgery, — they told me in the emergency room. — But now everyone has been taken away.
A hand-made sign "Entrance to the children's consultation" is lying on the porch of the dilapidated building. Civilian medicines, stretchers and scraps of foil thermal blankets, which are usually wrapped around the victims, are scattered nearby.
I didn't see a single military or any kind of cordon on the entire territory. There is no checkpoint at the entrance. The only people in camouflage on Saturday evening here were correspondents of federal TV channels. According to Yulia Nazarenko, such attacks look like a targeted campaign to destroy critical social infrastructure.
Anton Lavrov
