File image.
The Russian military’s Vostok [East] Group of Forces has repelled two Ukrainian counterattacks near the city of Huliapole in Zaporizhzhia, inflicting heavy losses on Kiev forces which were apparently attempting to score some media win.
The first counterattack was launched by Ukraine’s 1st Assault Regiment, also known as “Da Vinci” or “Da Vinci Wolves,” on December 28. Some 50 troops from the unit advanced in two pickup trucks, four armored personnel carriers, and three T-64 main battle tanks from Vozdvizhevka, towards Varvarovka on the Haichur River to the north of Haliapole.
The aim of the counterattack was to apparently break through the Russian defense line along the river and plant a flag on the right bank of the river.
The Vostok Group of Forces reacted very fast, however, targeting Ukrainian troops with drones and indirect fire means. The counterattack was thwarted and Kiev forces lost a pickup truck, three armored personnel carriers, and one of the tanks.
Most of the Ukrainian troops who took part in the counterattack attempt were killed. Some of those who survived were captured by the Vostok Group of Forces.
On December 29, the Vostok Group of Forces repelled a second counterattack launched by Ukraine’s 425th Separate Assault Regiment, also known as “Skala,” this time to the south of Huliapole.
Two detachments from the unit advanced an unknown number of armored personnel carriers and pickup trucks, but were quickly met with Russian fire. The counterattack was broken down within a few hours, with Kiev forces losing an armored personnel carrier and a pickup truck, along with some 14 troops.
The counterattack was also just just a flag-planting suicide mission, ordered by the Ukrainian command only to gain media attention.
These counterattacks came just a few days after Russia took control of Huliapole. Instead of allocating these resources to the defense of the areas to the west of the city, Kiev threw them in a desperate counterattack in the hope of scoring a media victory.
The Ukrainian attempt to pressure Russian troops in Huliapole had absolutely no effect on the Vostok Group of Forces, which made additional gains to the south of the city, as well as around Stepnohirsk to the west in Zaporizhzhia.
Russian troops captured all the territories to the east of the road leading to Huliapole from the south, around 3,8 square kilometers.
To the west of Stepnohirsk, the troops stormed Lukyanovskoe. According to preliminary reports, the settlement has been very much captured. Meanwhile to the east of Stepnohirsk, the troops advanced in Primorsky, reaching the settlement’s northern part for the first time.
Russian President Vladimir Putin noted the recent successes of the Vostok Group of Forces, which indicate that operations in Zaporizhzhia will be prioritized during the coming period.
“A favorable situation is developing in the operational area of the Battlegroup East in the Zaporozhye Region. The Battlegroup’s troops have crossed the Gaichur River in force, breached the enemy’s defenses and are developing an offensive towards Zaporozhye at a good pace,” Putin said during a meeting on the situation in the zone of the special military operation on December 29, according to TASS.
Russia is clearly planning on taking advantage of the clear Ukrainian collapse in Zaporizhzhia. Kiev could still reinforce its defense lines in the region. However, this is guaranteed to cause major losses in other regions, especially in nearby Donetsk. It is very clear now that Ukraine no longer has the resources to keep fighting along the current lines.
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these ukrainians must be playing call of duty.
natostan sends them off to die easily . it was reported that azov and mercs are main ukrainian forces in the area. there are over 160 international central banks that support the nato effort
looks like the sheet is about to hit the fun. like rodney king once said; man “why can{t we all just get along”
where is my taliban husband?