Click to see full-size image
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are on the offensive in all directions around the city of Artyomovsk (former Bakhmut). In recent days, they achieved new important victories on the northern flank.
Last week, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed Russian control of the village of Artyomovskoe (former Khromovo) located on the western outskirts of Bakhmut. Today, the Russian military revealed important details of the assault and shared footage from the village:
Units of Airborne troops from the South group of forces, with the support of aviation and artillery fire, continued to improve the situation along the front line and liberated the settlement of Artemovskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic.
During reconnaissance operations and additional reconnaissance of the AFU positions from the air, the paratroopers revealed the defense system, the main strongholds and firepower of the enemy. As a result of the counter-battery struggle, Russian artillery suppressed the firing positions of the AFU artillery and destroyed the control points. The aircraft struck at fortified positions and fortifications where the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hiding.
Having demoralized the enemy with precise strikes on control points and suppressing firepower, the paratroopers stormed the village from several directions under the cover of groups on armored vehicles. UAV operators accompanied the storming units from the air and warned about newly discovered AFU firepower and mining of the advance routes. The newly discovered fire positions were immediately destroyed by the FPV drones and the fire of armored groups.
Later, the airborne assault groups stormed the settlement, using the entire arsenal of small arms. The enemy fled, abandoning the wounded and the dead. Some of Ukrainian militants laid down their weapons and surrendered.
After the village of Khromovo located on the western outskirts of Bakhmut came under the Russian control, advance of Russian forces accelerated. On the evening of December 3, preliminary reports from the front claimed Russian control of the Villanovsky plant nursery, located west of Khromovo. The area of the nursery was turned into a strategically important stronghold by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). The goal of Ukrainian grouping deployed in this position was to stop Russian advance towards the ‘road of life’ between Khromovo and Chasov Yar. It was the last road used by the AFU for sending military supplies to Bakhmut during the heavy battles for the city.
After Wagner fighters took control of Bakhmut in May 2023, they captured Ukrainian stronghold in the plant nursery and went further to the south. However, the village of Khromovo then remained under control of the AFU. The current Russian assault was launched by Russian paratroopers, who liberated Khromovo and straightened the front taking control of the plant nursery.
According to preliminary reports from the front on the evening of December 4, Russian forces approached the highway and stormed the road from Chasov Yar to Khromovo.
The ‘road of life’ again turned into the ‘death road’. Ukrainian equipment and manpower along the entire road to Chasov Yar are destroyed by Russian precise artillery fire and numerous FPV drones:
Strikes on Ukrainian forces on the southern flank of Bakhmut, near Klescheevka and Kurdyumovka:
Destruction in Krasny:
The Ukrainian military is retreating to Krasny (Ivanovske). Ukrainian forces are strengthening their positions, preparing for the upcoming battle. Russian assault on Krasny is necessary for future operations in the direction of Chasov Yar and further the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration.
