Russian Army Advances Along Road To Slovyansk As Ukrainian Defenses Crumble (Videos)

File image.

On January 17, the Russian military advanced along the highway leading to the key city of Slovyansk in Donetsk amid signs of a near collapse of Ukrainian defenses there.

The Yug [South] Group of Forces captured Privolye, which is located some 20 kilometers to the south of Slovyansk along the E40 highway, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Russian troops stormed the settlement just a few days earlier. Kiev forces didn’t put up much resistance.

After capturing the settlement, the troops advanced east towards Bondarne, which is already under control, clearing a pocket of 8,9 square kilometers from Kiev forces.

Reports from a day earlier suggest that Russian troops also expanded their control to the west of the settlement and captured Minkovka. This is yet to be confirmed by the Russian MoD. However, the troops are indeed fighting inside the settlement.

The capture of Privolye brought the Yug Group of Forces one step closer to Slovyansk. Considering that most areas to the east and west of the settlement have been already secured, Russian troops will likely push further north, possibly towards Dibrova, which is located only 16 kilometers away from the city.

Any quick push north of Privolye would, of course, mean that Kiev forces don’t have the manpower  needed to defend the E40.

To the west in Donetsk, the Yug Group of Forces is also expanding its control close to the key city of Kostiantynivka, with Kiev forces on the retreat.

According to recent reports, Russian troops reached the southern outskirts of Stepanovka, which is located to the west of Kostiantynivka, and advanced in Berestok, right to the south of the city. The troops secured 7.2 square kilometers during their advance in both areas.

The situation in the city itself didn’t see any major developments. Russian troops are still battling Kiev forces in its southern part.

All in all, the Russian military will likely need a few months to reach Slovyansk, a key logistics and command hub of Kiev forces. The battle in Kostiantynivka could take as much time or even more, as the large industrial city is believed to be heavily fortified.

Ukrainian defenses in both directions could, however, collapse much sooner due to the manpower shortage affecting Kiev forces. The issue became very apparent in recent months with the collapse of Kiev forces in the city of Siversk in Donetsk and the city of Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia.

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