File image.
On December 18, the Russian military began advancing around Huliapole in Zaporozhye to besiege remaining Ukrainian troops inside the city, all while expanding its control to the north along the Haichur River.
The Vostok [East] Group of Forces flanked Kiev forces in the northern part of Huliapole, moving directly from the northern outskirts of the city to its western part. Russian troops also expanded their control in the southern outskirts of Hauliapole, to the east of the T-0401 road.
The latest moves are clearly a part of a maneuver meant to besiege remaining Ukrainian troops inside Huliapole. The troops are already facing intense Russian bombardment, and any move by them is immediately targeted by the drone units of the Vostok Group of Forces.
It’s worth noting that half of the city, including most of its eastern and southern parts and several areas in its center are already in the hands of the Russian military.
In addition to the steady advance in Huliapole, the Vostok Group of Forces continues to expand its control to the north along the left bank of the Haichur.
Russian troops crossed the river in a new area, to the west of Dobropillya. The troops seized some 11 square kilometers of territory and reached Kosovtsevo.
The Vostok Group of Forces is already fighting on two other points on the left bank of the Haichur in Zaporozhye: to the west of Nove Zaporizhzhya, and north of Pryluky. It has also captured Pischane and Harasymivka in Dnepropetrovsk to the north along the same bank of the river.
All in all, the Ukrainian defense line along the Haichur has very much collapsed, and most of the left bank will likely be secured by the Russian military within a few weeks.
Click to see full-size map.
The Ukrainian defeat in Hauliapole and along the Haichur will mark the start of a new Russian offensive to the west in Zaporozhye. The target will likely be Orikhiv, a key logistical and command hub of Kiev forces. The Vostok Group of Forces could also develop operations between Stepnohirsk and Prymorske on the Dniepr River.
With sufficient manpower to mount a meaningful counterattack or organize an effective resistance, the Ukrainian collapse will continue.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
os drones russos são terríveis. tanto quanto os drones iranianos.