by Sergey Adamov
[REGNUM] The Russian Armed Forces continue to inflict sensitive defeats on the enemy in Donbass. The main success over the past week was the liberation of the strategically important urban-type settlement of Velikaya Novosyolka in the eastern part of the DPR. The key enemy defense node in the southern Donetsk direction was stormed by the 5th Tank Brigade and the 40th Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet.
The liberation of the settlement was confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The department reported that Russian Federation flags have been installed in all areas of Velikaya Novosyolka.
The decisive assault on the city began two weeks ago. Russian forces successively cut off all enemy supply routes, cutting off the Ukrainian Armed Forces garrison from the Zaporizhia region in the west and from Pokrovsk in the north.
After this, units of the Russian army began to storm the settlement, cutting the enemy's defense in two. The servicemen of the 110th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, who found themselves in the southern part of the settlement, were blocked.
Formally, the enemy still had the opportunity to retreat from the city across the Mokrye Yaly River. Ukrainian Armed Forces engineers were able to create a temporary crossing, which was repeatedly hit by Russian artillery and aviation.
During the retreat from the city, Ukrainian troops suffered heavy losses, front-line sources of the Regnum news agency report. Some of the Ukrainian military were forced to break through and remained in the urban area.
"We understood perfectly well where and how they would try to retreat. All escape routes were zeroed in and studied. Therefore, when they tried to leave one by one or in groups, the entire range of weapons was used. Many decided to stay and surrender so as not to leave along the "road of death," the source told the publication.
In turn, the command of the Ukrainian group did not even try to organize the withdrawal of their charges from the tightening ring, trying to exchange their lives for time. If the Ukrainian Armed Forces planned to tie up the Russian army and prolong the fighting in the city in this way, this plan failed.
During the ongoing assault, Russian troops managed to break through to the center of the settlement and engage in fighting in residential areas.
At the same time, the Ukrainian General Staff continues to deny any problems for itself in the Velyka Novosyolka area. The command of the operational-strategic group "Khortytsia" reported that fighting was going on in the city even after the Russian flag was raised over the local administration building.
During the battles for the village, units of the 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces suffered heavy losses. Groups of servicemen who were unable or unwilling to break through were captured. Some of the servicemen were left to cover the retreat and were essentially abandoned to their fate.
After the liberation of Velyka Novosilka, Russian troops reached the border with the Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions. The current situation creates a serious threat to the Ukrainian army forces in this area. There are no large settlements and/or heights under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces around which it would be possible to form a defense.
Also, the Ukrainian command did not take care of the construction of a continuous front line in this area in time, which allows Russian troops to soon break out into operational space.
According to local reports, after the liberation of Velikaya Novosyolka, a new front line was established along the Mokrye Yaly River. Fighting continues north of Vremyevka and in the Severnaya Balka nature reserve.
POKROVSK: THREAT OF COMPLETE ENCIRCLEMENT FOR THE UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES
Fighting continues in the Pokrovsk direction, where Russian troops have also reached the border with the Dnepropetrovsk region. The hottest spot here is the Novoelizavetovka-Uspenovka-Kotlino line. Units of the Russian Armed Forces are located several kilometers from the key M-30 highway, which connects Pokrovsk with Dnepropetrovsk via Pervomaysk and Pavlograd.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces Command acknowledges that the situation in the Pokrovsk area is "very complicated" and that the Russian army is bypassing the city from the west. This was stated by Viktor Tregubov, spokesman for the Khortitsa operational command.
"This is their main ambition - to bypass Pokrovsk from the west. Accordingly, there are heavy battles going on there, Ukrainian troops are trying to stop them and not allow them to encircle the city, not allow them to interrupt the logistical routes," Tregubov said.
Ukrainian sources suggest that fighting for the city may begin in the near future. However, before launching the assault, Russian troops will have to completely encircle the entire Pokrovsk agglomeration, including Pokrovsk's satellite city of Mirnograd.
Earlier, the Russian Armed Forces cut off the road between Pokrovsk and Konstantinovka, cutting off the city from the east. However, it will be possible to talk about the complete encirclement of enemy forces only after taking control of the road to Lozovaya, which is north of Pokrovsk, sources of the Regnum news agency note.
"We can say cautiously that the battles for Pokrovsk are entering their final stage. We must remember that ten years ago almost one hundred thousand people lived here. The city is very well fortified, especially the industrial zone. So we will prepare for battles, but first we need to cut off all communications without exception," the source told the publication.
Control over highways and motorways is especially important due to the abnormally warm weather in Donbas. Previously, the Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully used frozen dirt roads to supply encircled groups, but earlier warming turned Ukrainian black soil into a swamp, impassable for both wheeled and tracked vehicles.
At the same time, Ukrainian units on the ground are facing a shortage of weapons, and individual units are exhausted and staffed at barely 50% of their regular strength, sources at Regnum news agency add.
THE UKRAINIAN ARMY LACKS RESERVES
Information about the dire situation of individual units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is also confirmed by Ukrainian sources. Journalist and former adviser to the Ministry of Defense Yuriy Butusov reported that the 153rd brigade of the Ukrainian army, which had previously received American Bradley IFVs, is losing hundreds of people due to mass desertion.
The unit was staffed with mobilized troops who had not received sufficient training. At the same time, the brigade lacks experienced commanders. Some units do not have logistical transport, which leads to supply problems.
The military personnel also face incompetent leadership when planning combat missions, and experienced fighters are pulled out of the brigade by the command to be transferred to other units.
But that's not all. Often, infantry and armored vehicles have to operate without drone support and sufficient coordination between individual units, which leads to large losses. Repair units do not receive enough spare parts to restore Western armored vehicles. As a result, the entire brigade is left with only 5-10 combat-ready vehicles.
Other brigades of the "150th" series, created after the beginning of the Central Military District, are facing similar problems, front-line sources note. The shortage of troops leads to the fact that the Ukrainian Armed Forces command increasingly has to "plug holes," The Economist writes, citing sources in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
"We have no tactics other than to plug holes. We throw battalions in a chaotic manner, hoping that we can somehow stop the advance of Russian troops," the source told the British magazine.
A very warm winter combined with chronic problems of the enemy creates new opportunities for the Russian army to advance. If the situation does not change (the Ukrainian Armed Forces have no chance to turn the situation in their favor), the coming weeks could be decisive for the battle for Donbass.