Russia recently announced its "biggest progress" in Ukraine since May, raising the Russian flag over a key town in eastern Ukraine, signaling a new winter offensive on the horizon. At present, on multiple fronts, the intensity of the Russian-Ukrainian fighting has weakened, and several decision-making mistakes of the Ukrainian army have led to heavy losses in elite troops, making the Ukrainian army obviously declining on the front line, which creates an opportunity for the Russian army to launch a full-scale counterattack. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Maryinka, a strategic location south of Donetsk, is fully under the control of Russian forces, which is one of the major developments that Russia has made this year. All that remains of the Ukrainian army is a precarious defensive line and a growing situation in Avdeyevka, and their hopes of making progress before the end of the year are increasingly slim. (Taking into account the winter factor, the military operations of Russia and Ukraine have been slowed down). Recently, it was reported that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Russia's Putin that the Russian army has taken full control of Maryinka. Putin congratulated and thanked the servicemen who participated in the battle in Maryinka, and pointed out that the Ukrainian army has built a large number of strong fortifications in Maryinka. With the breakthrough of these fortifications, the Russian army will have a wider space for operations.
It is worth mentioning that Putin also discussed the next move of the Russian army on the battlefield with Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian army, and some speculate that this may mean that the Russian army will launch a large-scale offensive on this basis. Foreign media reported that another major victory of the Russian army recently was the capture of **Mutt. The victory in the battle of Maryinka is another major advance for the Russian army since May. (Putin listens to Shoigu's briefing). The battle of Maryinka was intractable at first, but with the defeat of the Ukrainian army in the summer, the Ukrainian side received less and less military aid and support, the front line began to shrink, and part of the troops were withdrawn to rest. After the Russian side captured this signal, it immediately began a tentative offensive, and it was found that the firepower delivery capability of the Ukrainian army had decreased significantly. In this case, the Russian army began to launch a large-scale offensive, on the one hand, consuming the ammunition and materials of the Ukrainian army, and on the other hand, looking for opportunities to test the weaknesses of the Ukrainian army's defense line and seize the opportunity to create a breakthrough. In addition, due to problems in the allocation of resources of the Ukrainian army, it was difficult to support the position, and after the Russian army attacked many times, the Ukrainian army could only retreat again and again, and finally lost. However, the Ukrainian side has a different opinion on the information released by the Russian side, insisting that the fighting continues.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian military's combat group claimed that the claim that the Russian army had completely occupied Maryinka was "inaccurate" and that in fact the fighting was still ongoing. Despite the complete destruction of the entire town, the Ukrainian army is still fighting in Maryinka and has successfully repelled several Russian attacks. Considering the current situation on the battlefield, the information released by the Russian side may be more credible. After all, in the middle of this month, the Russian side announced that it controlled 95% of Maryinka and erected a ** flag on the outskirts of the city. However, even if this news is true, Ukraine will not admit it. This attitude may be considered on two fronts: on the one hand, the recognition of this fact may affect the morale of the Ukrainian troops on the front line and may affect the situation in Avdeyevka;On the other hand, this will exacerbate the West's disappointment with the Ukrainian army, leading to the possibility of another reduction in the already limited military aid. The question of future military operations is even more in front of us. Maryinka and Avdeyevka have always been regarded as the two major bastions of the Ukrainian army in the eastern part of Ukraine, and once they are lost, the Ukrainian army will have to withdraw and reorganize a new defensive line. The Russian army can use the progress made in these two places to continue to advance and consolidate the logistics line of the entire Donetsk region.
The capture of Maryinka and Avdeyevka is also a great victory for the hearts and minds of the people in the eastern part of the country. The history of blood and tears since 2014 will come to an end with the raising of the ** flag over the positions of the Ukrainian army. (Marinka has been reduced to rubble). In addition to Maryinka, the Russian army has launched an offensive on all fronts in the Donbass. Russian ** reported that the Russian army has made important progress in a number of locations such as Avdeyevka, Kupyansk and Maryinka, which also makes the Ukrainian side feel anxious. At present, the Ukrainian side is considering whether to conscript 500,000 people for war games. According to a report by Phoenix TV, the Russian army has almost full control of Maryinka, and the Ukrainian army is also withdrawing some of its defense lines on its northwest flank, and some troops are withdrawing. Last week, fierce fighting in Maryinka continued, and the Ukrainian army deployed the most elite tank brigades on the ground, as well as elite units trained by NATO equipped with advanced ** equipment, but the situation is obviously not optimistic. At the same time, the Ukrainian army is also facing an emergency situation on the Chasov Yar defense line on the western flank of **mut, and the Russian commandos are only two kilometers east of the city, and the siege operation is in full swing.
The Ukrainian army has established the General Front Command of Chasov Yar on a 105-kilometer front in Mut, Avdeyevka, Maryinka and Ugledar as a logistical supply center in this direction. If these areas are captured by Russian forces, it will have far-reaching consequences for the overall situation (although the confrontation on other fronts in the Donbas continues). In addition, Klinki, on the eastern bank of the Dnieper, remains a vital point of engagement, with the 810 Marines of the Russian Black Sea Fleet engaged in the battle and seizing strongholds of the Ukrainian army. The Russian army, which is fighting on the front line in the Donbass, is constantly gaining experience and preparing in an orderly manner. Russian experts believe that the main enemy of the Russian army is not the Ukrainian army, but its own carelessness and underestimating the enemy. In general, I look forward to sharing your views and stories about the situation on all fronts in the Donbass in the comment area.