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On December 19, the Russian military began storming the last districts under Ukrainian control in the city of Myrnohrad, also known as Dimitrov, in a final push to capture the city.
The Tsentr [Center] Group of Forces managed to secure most of these districts, according to preliminary reports. In other parts of the city Myrnohrad, especially the southeastern part, Kiev forces are said to be making their last stand in small isolated pockets.
The number of Ukrainian troops besieged in Myrnohrad could be in the thousands. Their fate will likely be decided in the next few days, if not hours.
A withdrawal is out of question for these troops, especially that the Tsentr Group of Forces has expanded its control to the north of the nearby city of Pokrovsk tightening the siege imposed on Myrnohrad. Still, Kiev could order a suicidal break out attempt.
Many officers and soldiers are, however, already opting to surrender to the Tsentr Group of Forces. Oleg Khristenko, a soldier who recently made the decision to surrender, described the catastrophic situation of remaining Ukrainian troops in Myrnohrad in footage released by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
“There are a lot of casualties, a lot of FPV drones flying around. Our command sends everyone to positions. They send people and they either get captured, or killed. I would recommend men to surrender as the city is encircled, there is no way out,” Khristenko said.
With Myrnohrad nearly secured, the Tsentr Group of Forces has begun accelerating operations in other directions around Pokrovsk.
Russian troops broke through Ukrainian defenses in the southern part of Hryshyne, to the northwest of Pokrovsk, and reached the cemetery. Further to the east, the troops are storming Novopidhorodne. Intense airstrikes hit the positions of Kiev forces there.
It is unclear how well Ukraine has prepared its defenses beyond Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, but it is very clear that once the latter is cleared the Tsentr Group of Forces will start advancing north.
The target of the upcoming offensive will be the city of Dobropillia, a key logistics and command hub for Kiev forces. Russian troops are already positioned in Dorozhnye, some 13 kilometers to the southeast of Dobropillia. With good planning, and sufficient firepower, the troops could reach the city within a few weeks. The battle there will likely go on for months, however.
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oh really, do you think it could? really old chap.? where would you get that clue? how adventurous of you to be so emboldened.
brave. who’s your chief?