Ukrainian officials said that Russian efforts to penetrate north were unsuccessful as the Battle of Bakhmut continued
The Ukrainian military says Russian forces have attempted unsuccessful offensives along various parts of the front lines in northern Ukraine, including along the borders of the Kharkiv and Luhansk regions, an area the Russians have tried to breach for several weeks.
The forests west of the Russian-controlled region of Kremina have seen heavy fighting since the Russians sent reinforcements to the area in December. But they could not reach the open lands around the towns of Torske and Zarichne, which would bring them closer to the larger cities of the Donetsk region.
There was also heavy fighting in the north around the town of Svatov, but the front lines had not changed much.
“There was an escalation a few days ago in the Svatov and Kremina sectors. It was very difficult for us when they attacked. However, today it was calm, as our defenders repelled strong attacks in all directions, destroying equipment and men,” said Serhi Haidi, head of the military department. Luhansk region.
“They (the Russians) withdrew to regroup, I think, to get some equipment,” he added.
Heidi noted that the Russians “threw a heavy equipment company and an infantry company into the attack at the same time. They used to attack with one or two tanks plus one platoon, now it’s more than that.”
Meanwhile, the Military Staff said in its daily update, Thursday, that Russian forces continue to attack various locations around the city of Bakhmut, as Ukrainian units are trying to keep access to the city open. He said that 13 settlements in the area were attacked.
Unofficial military reports indicate continued heavy fighting in the north and northwest of Bakhmut, as Russian units, including Wagner’s paramilitary forces, attempt to capture high ground and tighten control of the access roads to Bakhmut.
“The situation on the northern side is getting more difficult. Here they want to make the encirclement of Bakhmut possible,” Colonel Yuri Madyar of the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade said in a video message.
He said that Ukrainian units were “holding firmly on the southern flank”.
He added, “The northern outskirts of Bakhmut were dynamic last night, and now it has become more quiet, so we are preparing for the coming night…the direction of the southeast, as well as the southern and southwestern sectors are under constant enemy pressure.”
The Ukrainian military also says cross-border mortar and artillery fire continues in the north, with several locations hit in the Sumy, Chernigov and Kharkiv regions. Some analysts believe that this fire aims to reform Ukrainian defense units in the north, and prevent them from redeploying to the Donetsk region, where most of the intense fighting is concentrated.
In the south, the Ukrainian military claims that in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol, children of school age are sworn in as “little soldiers” (yunarmiya).
And in Mariupol, he says, “the occupiers persuade the local population to agree to prepare sites around the city in exchange for food rations, thus causing a humanitarian crisis.”
“Creator. Devoted pop culture specialist. Certified web fanatic. Unapologetic coffee lover.”