Military Overview On August 29, 2023: Ukrainian Forces Run Out Of TimeSouth Front

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Battles are ongoing in the southern and eastern Ukraine but the frontlines remain unchanged. While the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) fail to advance on the battlefields, Kiev does not stops attempts to attack the Russian rear areas eith drones. Russian forces respond with precision missile strikes.

In the Zaporozhie region, the AFU continue attempts to take full control of the village of Rabotino. Despite the victorious claims from Kiev, sources from the front confirm that the Russian military is still holding the positions on the southern outskirts. Russian forces seek to bind the enemy with battles in the area of Rabotino in order to exhaust the offensive potential of the AFU. As a result, the Ukrainian military command continues to transfer reinforcement to this area, weakening the AFU groupings on the Artemovsk and Donetsk directions.

In an attempt to straighten the frontlines and avoid their encirclement, Ukrainian forces attempt attacks on the flanks, including near Verbovoe and Novopokrovka to the east and Kopani to the west of Rabotino. So far, without any significant advance.

According to the reports from the front, the escalation has recently decreased in the area. The AFU stopped major attacks with heavy military equipment, likely in an attempt to save the Western vehicles and tanks. Assault operations with infantry continue but they are immediately stopped by Russian artillery, bringing no results.

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Shelling on Ukrainian forces in Rabotino:

Fighting near Rabotino:

Ukrainian vehicles destroyed in the area of Rabotino:

Artillery duels continue in the area of Pyatikhtky, where the AFU stopped major offensive operations, attempting some local attacks on the Russian positions with small groups.

Shelling in Pyatikhatky:

Ukrainian combat vehicles struck with Russian ATGMs, location unknown:

South of Velikaya Novoselka, Ukrainian offensive stopped after the AFu took control of the village of Urozhainoe. Heavily shelled by Russian artillery both in Staromayorskoe and Urozhainoe, the Ukrainian military attempts to transfer reserves and rotate forces in the area, preparing for new wave of attacks southwards. Clashes are ongoing between Urozhainoe and Zavitne Bazhannya, but the AFU are yet to approach the latter.

The Russian military is still in control of Novosonetskoe located to the south-east of Velikaya Novoselka. In order to continue their advance, Ukrainian forces have to secure their flanks and expand their zone of control in the region. Thus, new attacks on Novodonetskoe should be expected. In the casse of success, this would pave the way for Ukrainian attacks on Staromlynovka from eastern direction. Staromlynovka is the first strategically important Russian stronghold in the area that the AFU are yet to approach.

Russian small drones struck Ukrainian servicemen:

Lost Ukrainian servicemen take prisoner, exact location is unknown:

Amid heavy artillery duels, the AFU continue airstrikes on the Russian military positions on the most remote frontlines. For example, on the early morning Ukrainian aircraft are targeting the village of Novodonetskoe. Both of the waring sides are using cluster munitions.

After the West supplied them to the Kiev regime, the Russian military claimed that as a result they also face no more obstacles for using the cluster munitions. The AFU are pounding Russian strongholds with cluster warheads, which is not effective enough. On the other hand, the Russian military deployed this tyme of ammunition in precision strikes on the attacking Ukrainian infantry, which has no place to hide in the steppes.

UAVs of various types are also used by both of the warring sides en mass. The effectiveness of Russian small FPV and strike drones has been proved by hundreds of videos from the frontlines. At the same time, reports from the front claim that despite the deployment of numerous ADS and EW systems, some Ukrainian UAVs are still reaching their targets in the Russian rear areas, threatening the military supplies to the frontlines.

The Ukrainian military is running out of time, while none of the strategic goals in the Zaporozhye region has been achieved. The rainy season that is approaching the southern frontlines as well as growing losses may soon force Kiev to admit the defeat of its counteroffensive and go on the defensive.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence:

In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian forces, supported by aviation and artillery, repelled two attacks by the 46th Airmobile brigades of the AFU in the area of the village of Verbovoye.

Up to 90 Ukrainian servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, four vehicles, three M777 artillery systems and two M119 howitzers made in the USA, as well as the “FH-70” gun made in the UK were destroyed during the day.

In the South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok group of forces, in cooperation with army aviation and artillery, destroyed up to 100 Ukrainian servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, three cars, as well as two howitzers: Acacia and Hyacinth-B during the fighting during the day.

In addition, an ammunition depot of the 79th Airborne Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed near the settlement of Novomikhailovka of the Donetsk People’s Republic.

Up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen, three cars, as well as two D-30 howitzers were destroyed in the Kherson direction as a result of fire damage.

Foreign allegedly filmed a shooting battle, however, the authenticity of the video raises doubts:

Ukrainian positions under fire:

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In other regions, the situation is not better. Since the AFU failed to capture any of the settlements on the outskirts of Artemovsk (Bakhmut), the front lines stabilized there. The Ukrainian military command was forced to abandon their hopes of any victories and transfer some units from there to support the offensive in the Zaporozhie region or defensive in Kupyansk.

The Russian military is in full control of Klesheevka and other settlements nearby. Clashes are ongoing for the forest areas and the dominant heights. Russian have recently counterattacked in the Kurdyumovka area and slightly improved their positions there.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence:

In the Donetsk direction, the units of the Southern grouping of troops repelled the attack of the assault group of the 59th Motorized Infantry Brigade of the AFU in the area of the settlement of Nevelskoye of the Donetsk People’s Republic and improved the situation along the front edge.

In the area of Dorozhnoye settlement of the Donetsk People’s Republic, a military echelon of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with artillery ammunition was hit by a missile strike at the unloading station.

In addition, an ammunition depot of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed near the settlement of Druzhkovka of the Donetsk People’s Republic.

The enemy’s losses in this direction amounted to more than 340 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, six armored combat vehicles, thirteen cars, as well as two howitzers: D-20 and Msta-B.

Russian artillery shelling Ukrainian positions in the area of Belogorovka:

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Meanwhile, the Russian military maintains a military initiative on the frontlines in the Northern Donbass. Their offensive near Kupyansk and Svatovo continues at an average rate of advance of up to 1 km per day. Fighting continues on the outskirts of Kupyansk near Sinkovka, which is mostly in the gray zone. At the same time, Russian force resumed attacks on the town of Petropavlovsk. Over the past day, Russian fighters managed to occupy another large Ukrainian stronghold on the Sinkovka – Petropavlovsk line. Attempts of the AFU to counterattack lead to no results.

The Russian military is unlikely to launch a large assault on Kupyansk in the nearest future. The escalation of offensive operations in the area is mainly aimed at distracting the Ukrainian military and forcing their command to transfer military reserves far from the southern front.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence:

In the Kupyansk direction, units of the Western grouping of troops, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems during the past day repelled six attacks by the 43rd and 115th mechanized, as well as the 25th airborne brigades of the AFU in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka, Kharkiv region and Stelmakhovka, Luhansk People’s Republic.

The enemy’s losses amounted to up to 50 Ukrainian servicemen, two armored combat vehicles and three cars.

In the Krasny Liman direction, units of the Center group of troops, in cooperation with aviation and artillery, repelled three attacks by the 12th special purpose Brigade, as well as the 21st and 63rd mechanized brigades of the AFU in the areas of the settlements of Kremennaya, Chervonaya Dibrova of the Luhansk People’s Republic and Yampolovka of the Donetsk People’s Republic.

Up to 80 Ukrainian servicemen, two infantry fighting vehicles, three armored combat vehicles and two pickup trucks were destroyed.

Four Russian fighters captured a stronghold of the AFU in the Kupyansk area:

Destruction of the Ukrainian 155-mm self-propelled gun M109 in Kupyansk:

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 466 aircraft, 247 helicopters, 6206 unmanned aerial vehicles, 433 anti-aircraft missile systems, 11555 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1146 multiple rocket launchers, 6107 field artillery and mortars, as well as 12508 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence.