On December 26, 2023, TASS reported that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had reported to Putin that the vanguard of the Southern Group of Russian troops had successfully captured Maryinka, a key city near Donetsk, and achieved complete liberation.
Maryinka, 5 kilometers southwest of Donetsk, has been fortified by Ukrainian forces since the outbreak of clashes with pro-Russian separatists in 2014. For nine years, the Ukrainian army has built a strong defensive line in Maryinka. According to Shoigu, there are more than 3,000 fortified buildings in Maryinka, each of which constitutes a solid stronghold. In addition, the Ukrainian army has built underground passages in the city, each street is equipped with an independent defensive structure, capable of effectively defending against artillery and aviation attacks, with long-term firing points and a complex underground communication system.
The capture of this strategic location of Maryinka significantly weakens the defense capability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This means that the Russian army can continue its offensive in the western regions of Ukraine. For Russia, this is a landmark operation, highlighting the ability of Russian forces to successfully overcome fortified enemy positions during long and intense combat operations.
According to Reuters, the control of the town of Maryinka marks one of Russia's most important gains since the capture of Bakhmut in May. Previously, Russia's last notable victory on the battlefield was in May this year when it captured the city of **Mutter, the site of almost a year of bloody fighting between Russia and Ukraine.
Russia** Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that after the successful liberation of Maryinka in Donetsk, Russian troops will have the opportunity to expand their operational range. "Having captured this fortress, which Ukraine has built since 2014, our army has the opportunity to further expand the field of operations," Putin stressed. He also announced that Russian servicemen who participated in the capture of Maryinka will be honored by the state, ordering that corresponding rewards be prepared for all outstanding performance.
It is worth noting that when Ukraine was preparing to usher in the first official Christmas, that is, on the night of December 25, the Russian army launched **31 drones and two missiles to bomb the southern regions of Ukraine, resulting in a large number of Ukrainian personnel**.
Due to the lack of military support from the United States and the West, Ukraine's ** operation launched this year has failed, causing the Russian army to regain the initiative on the front line, especially in the eastern region, making key progress. In addition to capturing Maryinka, Russian forces have besieged the city of Avdiivka, another strategic point in eastern Ukraine.
According to IA on December 25, Vitaly Balabashi described the situation in Avdiivka as "very difficult" and that the Armed Forces of Ukraine may lose control of Avdivka in a short time. Ukraine's top military ** is also increasingly worried about the reduction of the number of pairs and ammunition ** by international partners, which could lead to the breakthrough of the Ukrainian defense line by the Russian army in a short time and a victory in the Avdiivka direction.
The latest official Russian information shows that the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the beginning of the special military operation have exceeded 3830,000 people, including more than 5,800 foreign mercenaries, of which 1,427 are from Poland, 466 from the United States and 344 from the United Kingdom. In addition, the Russian army destroyed 140,000 tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and armored transport vehicles, 553 aircraft and 259*** and 8,500 field artillery and salvo rocket artillery guns.
If Avdiivka is also lost, it will become more difficult for Ukraine to turn the tide.