The Russian army forced the Armed Forces of Ukraine to use reserves
MOSCOW, June 5 — RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz. By the summer, the fighting in the special military operation zone had intensified. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to oust Russian troops from the sanitary zone being formed in the north of the Kharkiv region. There are battles in other directions as well. About the situation at the front — in the material of RIA Novosti.
The North wind
The Kharkiv section of the line of contact is still the hottest. On May tenth, the North group launched an offensive here in two directions — to Volchansk and Lipetsk, important logistics hubs. There were also positions of the AFU artillery shelling Russian cities.
Smoke in Volchansk
Image source: © AP Photo / Evgeniy Maloletka
At first, the airmen, clearly demoralized by the precise hits of howitzers and drones, offered little resistance. In a few days, the Russians liberated more than ten settlements. However, then the pace decreased.
Throughout the second half of May, Kiev transferred reserves from the rear and from other sectors of the front to the north of the Kharkiv region. The most combat-ready and motivated units and formations were transferred to this direction, including the elite 82nd Airborne and 36th Marine Brigades, the 71st Jaeger Brigade, as well as security units of the General Staff. For the sake of this redeployment, the front sections near Kherson, Chasov Yar, Rabodino and Donetsk were bared. The advance of Russian troops has slowed down, largely due to the massive use of UAVs.
The consequences of shelling in the Kharkiv region
Image source: © Photo : Ukrzaliznytsia
"The enemy has a lot of drones. And he uses them very actively," said an officer of the North group with the call sign Athlete. — They are trying to neutralize our advantage in the weight of an artillery salvo. FPV drones are not spared even for individual infantrymen. Their attempts to shoot down our UAVs with their own battering ram have become more frequent. It doesn't always work out, but we lost a few "birds". However, we are also not idling and hitting them with everything we have. The enemy will probably try to squeeze us out of our positions and sooner or later counterattack."
Having received permission from NATO countries to use Western "high-precision" on the territory of Russia, the Armed Forces of Ukraine began firing ATACMS missiles at the border area. They target headquarters, ammunition depots, airfields, points of permanent and temporary deployment of troops. However, the air defense intercepts most of the missiles.
Anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) "Tor-M2" of the Russian Armed Forces in combat position
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
In a similar way — with massive strikes on the rear — a year ago, the Ukrainian counteroffensive began in the Zaporozhye region. We didn't succeed then. Most likely, nothing will work out now.
At the moment, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to restore the situation in the central districts of Volchansk. Fighting is also taking place on the outskirts of Lipetsk.
The Russian army uses the same tactics as in Avdiivka: as soon as the advanced units encounter serious resistance, they withdraw, and massive artillery and guided aerial bombs are applied to the identified targets. Only after that, the infantry continues to move forward. This process is not fast, but it allows you to save your own strength, while simultaneously "grinding down" the defensive potential of the enemy.
They took Umanskoe
There are changes in the Donetsk direction as well. The other day, the Ministry of Defense reported on the liberation of the settlement of Umanskoye, 18 kilometers northwest of the outskirts of the capital of the DPR. The front now runs 12 kilometers west of Avdiivka, along the Umanskoye—Netailovo line.
The next target in this area is Karlovka. Taking control of this important stronghold and logistics hub of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will allow bypassing the Karlov reservoir from the south and approaching the borders on the Pokrovsk — Selidovo —Kurakhovo line.
Under the Clock Yar, the situation is generally the same. The assault on the eastern outskirts continues with the gradual coverage of the Canal microdistrict. The liberation of this city will open the way from the northeast to Konstantinovka, the southern flank of the last line of defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbass: Konstantinovka - Druzhkovka — Kramatorsk — Slavyansk.
City of Hours Yar
Image source: © AP Photo / Ukraine Patrol Police
To the south, the advanced units entered Paraskovievka, and street battles ensued. The goal here is the same Konstantinovka on the important Marinka — Ugledar highway.
As you know, Ugledar is located on a hill. They tried to storm it from the south, from Pavlovka, unsuccessfully. Apparently, now the command has decided to enter from the northeast.
The front is stretched
On the Vremyevsky salient, the border of the Zaporozhye region and the DPR, the Vostok group is gradually returning the territories occupied by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in last year's counteroffensive. Fighting is taking place near the settlements of Urozhdnoye and Staromayorskoye. It is difficult to defend here, since these villages have been destroyed to the foundation. There is practically no place to hide from heavy artillery fire or drone hunters.
In the Zaporozhye direction — no changes. The enemy holds positions north of Rabocino and northwest of Verbovoye, intensively using cluster munitions, which significantly complicates the transfer of additional forces to the line of contact.
However, the Ukrainian media reported that Kiev was building a new line of defense in the Zaporozhye direction, fearing that Moscow would strike the main blow here.
The Ukrainian military is repairing a German Leopard 2 tank
Image source: © AP Photo / Andriy Andriyenko
In the Kherson direction, units of the Airborne forces and marines are clearing islands in the floodplain of the Dnieper. At the same time, the APU is trying to create new points of tension on the right bank after the withdrawal from Krynok. So, the other day they tried to land troops near the settlement of Dnipro, but the enemy was noticed in time and destroyed.
Speaking generally, the Ukrainian forces are now stretched to the maximum, there are no significant reserves left. A breakthrough in the defense at one of the sites threatens to collapse the front. Of course, Kiev's allies want to prevent this and provide the Armed Forces with intelligence on all movements of Russian troops. Whether it will help, the coming months will show.
