File image.
On February 8 and 9, the Russian military moved closer to the key city of Slovyansk in Donetsk from two different directions.
The Yug [South] Group of Forces made significant gains to the east of Slovyansk, in the direction of Siversk. Russian troops first expanded their control to the south of Zakitne, located around 25 kilometers to the east from the city, securing 4,4 square kilometers.
The troops then advanced west, reaching the outskirts of Krivaya Luka after securing an area with the size of 5,3 square kilometers.
Krivaya Luka, which is surrounded by several important heights, is located just under 20 kilometers to the east of Slovyansk.
Kiev forces will likely attempt to hold onto the settlement on the Siverskyi Donets River at all costs. Losing the settlement and the surrounding heights could expose all Ukrainian defenses to the east of Slovyansk to direct and indirect fire means of the Yug Group of Forces. This in turn would cause a collapse.
Click to see full-size map.
The Yug Group of Forces also continued to advance to the southeast of Slovyansk, along the E40 highway leading to the city.
Russian troops expanded their control to the north of Pryvillya, which is located right on the highway around 20 kilometers to the southeast of Slovyansk, as well as to east of the settlement, all the way up to Nykyforivka nearby. The troops cleared more than 2,4 kilometers near the two settlements.
The advance by the Yug Group of Forces along the E40 highway can be especially dangerous to Kiev forces, as it would allow Russian troops to threaten the road between Slovyansk and Kramatorsk.
Sloviansk serves as a critical, heavily fortified anchor in Ukraine’s eastern “fortress belt,” acting as a vital logistical hub and defensive barrier.
Recent days show an increase in Russian strikes on both Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. The battle there will not likely, however, start before summer, and could go on for months, or even a year, as Ukraine is poised to lose all of Donetsk if it loses the city. Of course, holding onto the city will cost Kiev dearly in other directions.
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slovyansk and kramatorsk have secure destiny as future cauldrons to become russian territory when referendums are allowed to complete. spring is coming