File image.
On December 24, the Russian military expanded its bridgehead across the Haichur River by capturing another settlement on the left bank.
The capture of the settlement, Zarechnoye, in Zaporozhye was announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense, which said that the 36th Separate Guards Motorised Brigade of the Vostok [East] Group of Forces’ 29th Guards Combined Arms Army led the attack there.
“The servicemen mopped up the enemy’s defensive area nine square kilometers in size on the border of Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk regions near the Gaychur River,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Units of the Vostok Group of Forces captured a part of the road connecting Bratskoye and Ternovatoye,” it added.
Zarechnoye is located right to the south of Harasymivka and Pischane, the first two settlements on the left bank of the Haichur captured by the Vostok Group of Forces earlier in the month.
Ukraine’s 110th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade lost a whole platoon of troops while attempting to hold onto the settlement.
After capturing Zarechnoye, the Vostok Group of Forces quickly began advancing south and southwest. Russian troops cleared all the areas down to Ternovatoye and Kosovtsevo. It is unclear yet, however, if the troops begin storming the two settlements.
Further south along the river, the Vostok Group of Forces is rapidly expanding its control within the key city of Huliaipole and Kiev forces are retreating.
Russian troops broke through yet another Ukrainian defense line in the center of the city, this time along Petrovskoho Street, capturing nearly all the residential areas to the west. The advance was facilitated by intense air and artillery strikes. The drone units of the Vostok Group of Forces also restricted the movement of Kiev forces.
Including the latest gains, the Vostok Group of Forces is now in control of over 70 precent of Huliaipole. Ukrainian presence there is now very much limited to a part of the center, some areas in the northern part and most of the western part of the city.
In recent days, Ukraine deployed five assault formations – the 1st Separate Assault Regiment, the 225th Separate Assault Regiment, the 33rd Separate Assault Regiment, the 24th Separate Assault Regiment, and the 100th Battalion of the 61st Separate Mechanized Brigade – in Huliaipole and to the north of it, along the Haichur.
Kiev forces may be planning a counterattack. However, considering that most of their formations are widely under staffed, it is doubtful they have the resources to make an impact.
As it stands, Huliaipole and the entire Haichur line will come under Russian control within a few weeks. This would be a major blow to Ukraine.
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fanatical ideology and promises from nato don’t win battles. most of the azov were supposed to have been moved to this northern area. fat lot of good that has done. soon the ukraine will be all out of us/nato nazis. for the long term survival of ukraine that will be a good thing.
what a load the us and nato
have never been more divided since trump came into office. ukraines alliance with the vatican has never been stronger as was hitler’s. . and he adored the english royals too .
again the moderatiez fanaticism shows when he doesn’t change the votes ..
ramses tom sawyer and crusty the clown stand with you