Fierce fighting continues in the main sections of the front in eastern Ukraine.
The Azovstal plant in Mariupol is being mopped up.
Fighters of the Azov nationalist regiment continue to offer fierce resistance, while servicemen from other units are used as live assets to locate firing positions of the DPR and Russian Defence Ministry units, i.e. as bait. If an opportunity arises, AFU and National Guard servicemen surrender. On April 20, over 30 people in total surrendered. The captives report that Azov fighters keep another AFU units under control, to the point that any movement is forbidden without the consent of an Azov specific fighter supervising them.
Families of Azov fighters are reportedly being held in underground communications and bunkers at Azovstal.
The Russian political leadership has already provided humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians directly from Azovstal’s territory many times. Another corridor was provided on April 20. Not a single civilian from the territory of Azovstal was released. On April 19, it was announced that over 100 people were evacuated, however, these were the residents of the residential areas directly adjacent to Azovstal.
There is dissatisfaction among Russian and DPR Armed Forces units over such strange actions of the command, as tactical pauses in combat operations suspend the development of success in clearing the factory area and give the Azov regiment time to rest and regroup.
For its part, the Azov regiment has no problem with water and food due to its huge reserves. There is still a central water supply for a part of the plant area. According to reports from the battle area, there is even internet access.
Nevertheless, on 20 April, there was another panic-like appeal from Azov commanders blocked inside the factory to the leaders of third countries (UK, Turkey, US, etc.) to ensure their evacuation to those countries.
“Our Last Days Or Hours”: Azov Militants Appeal To The World, Beg For Their Evacuation From Ukraine
On 20 April, it was reported that AFU units were forced to withdraw from Rubizhne and Kreminna.
Heavy street fighting is taking place in Popasna.
On 20 April, there was no significant advance of Russian Armed Forces units from Izyum in the direction of Barvenkovo and Slovyansk. The AFU sent its main reserves to this very area, which resulted in intense fighting that curtailed the Russian offensive. The AFU is also strengthening the defences of Seversk, Yampole and Krasny Lyman.
Reportedly captured AFU armoured vehicles, including a T-64 tank, during the 20 April fighting in this direction.
In Zaporizhzhia oblast active fighting is taking place east of Huliaipil (Hulyaipole, Gulyai Pole), troops are advancing west of Velyka Novosilka, having occupied several settlements. There is no change on the Kamenskoye-Orekhov-Hulyaipole line.
In the Ugledar area, intense fighting is taking place near Novomikhailovka-Ugledar and Velyka Novoselka. Two settlements are taken south of Velyka Novoselka by units of the Russian Armed Forces.
There are no offensive actions near Mykolaiv. The Russian Armed Forces are striking at targets in Mykolaiv and south of Nikopol. The Ukrainian Armed Forces try to respond in the direction of Kherson. Fighting is taking place in settlements between Kherson and Mykolaiv.
At around 20:00-21:00 local time on 20 April, the Ukrainian armed forces began striking rear settlements in the DPR. A significant increase in the number of AFU drones in the skies over the DPR and LPR has been reported. Air defence assets are actively operating.
East of Donetsk, over the town of Shakhtyorsk, DPR air defence assets intercepted a Tochka-U missile with cluster munition allegedly fired by the Ukrainian armed forces. At the same time, explosions and civilian casualties have been reported. The DPR territorial defence headquarters reported that at least three adults were wounded and one child was killed in Shakhtersk.
Heavy explosions recorded in Zhdanivka and Nizhnyaya Krynka, ten kilometres north of Donetsk – Shakhtarsk line, also in the DPR rear.
The intensification of shelling of the DPR’s rear may be a sign that the Ukrainian armed forces are preparing active operations in the region in order to divert Russian and DPR forces from other areas of military operations.
If such an attempt succeeds, it would mean the loss of the strategic initiative of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the transition of the conflict to the stage of a protracted war, where the forces of NATO countries will be directly or indirectly involved on the side of Ukraine.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
- War In Ukraine Day 55: ‘Tactical Pause’ Ended. Russian Forces Gain More Territories In Donbass (18+)
- War In Ukraine Day 54: Russian Major Offensive In Donbass Began (18+)
- War In Ukraine Day 53: Final Stage Of Mop Up Operation In Mariupol, Forces In Donbass Get Ready For Major Battle
