On July 22, 2023, Ukrainian forces engaged in a fierce exchange of fire with Russian forces in the highlands south of **Mut. The Ukrainian side claims that they have captured the village of Kreshcheevka and are trying to capture the Russian-controlled heights of Klishivka. The Ukrainian side also used cluster munitions and carried out a heavy bombardment of Russian positions. Cluster munitions are a terrifying form that can turn into hundreds of small bomblets in the air, causing lethal damage to people and equipment on the ground. In order to avoid **, the Russian side does not dare to easily enter the "gray zone" occupied by the Ukrainian side.
The purpose of the Ukrainian side is to break through the Russian defense line on the north and south sides of the city and encircle the urban area of Mutt, so as to achieve the goal of recapturing this strategic place. However, the plan of the Ukrainian side was not implemented smoothly. Although the Russian side is at a disadvantage in defense, it has successfully resisted many attacks by the Ukrainian side by relying on strong fire support. Russia's cluster munitions have also caused heavy losses to Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers and armored vehicles were exposed in the wilderness and became live targets for the Russian side. The artillery and command of the Ukrainian side were also hit with precision strikes from the Russian side. The ** numbers of the Ukrainian side are constantly climbing, and morale is low.
Western military experts have expressed dissatisfaction with the tactics of the Ukrainian side. They believe that the Ukrainian side should abandon its adventurous offensive in the field and instead use the advantages of the city to conduct a defensive war. They suggested that Zelensky, on the Ukrainian side, withdraw his troops, take Mariupol and Mut as examples, build a solid defense system, and engage in a war of attrition with the Russian side. They believe that in this way they can maintain the strength of the Ukrainian side and eventually drag down the combat effectiveness of the Russian side.
However, the Ukrainian side did not follow the advice of the West and continued to launch a suicidal charge on the Mutnam Heights. The Ukrainian death squads in groups of 10 people rushed desperately towards the Russian positions. Their goal is to break the Russian defenses and seize the Klishivka Heights. However, their actions almost always ended in failure. Russian cluster munitions were on top of their heads**, tearing them to shreds. Ninety percent of the members of the Ukrainian death squads were killed by cluster munitions. This brutal war shocked people. A European war correspondent said that the Ukrainian side is too big, but their plans have not changed. They still want to capture Krishivka and Berkhivka, and then surround **Muth.
The determination of the Ukrainian side has not been rewarded. Most believe that it is very unlikely that the Ukrainian side will recapture **mut before mid-August. The Russian side has a strong defensive capability, and the Ukrainian side has a weak offensive capability. The Ukrainian army suffered a crushing defeat on the battlefield of **mut. Not only Ukrainian soldiers, but even foreign mercenaries were killed in this war. Nine foreign snipers were killed by Russian cluster munitions. The commander of the 3rd Azov Assault Brigade on the Ukrainian side said that their snipers, no matter how well they hid, could not escape the Russian cluster munitions. He said that the Russian side has much more rockets and cluster munitions than the Ukrainian side. On the front in eastern Ukraine, nowhere is safe. The command of the 44th separate artillery brigade of the Ukrainian side was destroyed by Russian rocket artillery, and the brigade commander was also killed.
The cruelty of this war is beyond many people's imagination. A retired soldier from the United States who once participated in the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a mercenary. He said he had been through many wars, but this one was the most tragic. He said the war was more tragic than the wars in Afghanistan, the Gulf War and the Iraq War. He was glad he survived, but he also knew that many people were not as lucky as he was.