File image.
On December 11, the Russian military expanded its control in the direction of Vovchansk in Kharkiv, capturing the settlement of Liman from Kiev forces.
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the capture of Liman, located to the southeast of Vovchans, by the Sever [North] Group of Forces in a brief statement. The settlement is among the largest near Vovchansk and together with Synelnykove, it formed one of Ukraine’s main defense lines around the city.
The Sever Group of Forces captured Synelnykove in November, before defeating Kiev forces in Vovchansk itself earlier this month.
The capture of Liman now signals the start of a Ukrainian collapse to the east and southeast of Vovchans, as the Russian offensive there is gaining momentum.
To the east of Liman, the Sever Group of Forces made significant gains in Vilcha. The settlement’s northern part and most of its center are already under Russian control. Remaining Ukrainian positions are getting hammered everyday with air and artillery strikes.
A similar situation is developing in Prylipka, to the west of Liman. The Sever Group of Forces is already fighting Kiev forces inside the small settlement.
Both Vilcha and Prylipka will likely be captured by Russian troops before the end of the year. From Vilcha, the troops will likely press southward to Zemlyanyi Yar with the aim of approaching Bilyi Kolodiaz, a logistic hub of Kiev forces. At the same time, the troops could begin advancing south from Prylipka along the Siverskyi Donets River. The main target would be Hrafske.
The Sever Group of Forces is also advancing to the east of Vovchansk. Fighting got more intense in Vovchanski Khutory, located right to the east of the city, in recent days. Ukrainian positions there are under intense artillery strike, and any movement by troops or vehicles is getting targeted by drone operators.
The capture of Vovchanski Khutory would allow the Sever Group of Forces to push east along the border all the way to Dehtyarne.
Meanwhile in the direction of Kupyansk, to the south of Kharkiv, battles are also heating up again. On December 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed of the “liberation” of Kucherovka and Kurilovka, to the east and southeast of the city, by the chief of the country’s General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, during a high-level meeting.
The Zapad [West] Group of Forces operating in this direction is well on its way to end the presence of Kiev forces to the east of the Oskil River.
In general, the situation of Kiev forces in Kharkiv mirrors that in other regions. The forces are taking one defeat after another. Counterattacks are failing, and are in fact making Kiev weaker. A wider Ukrainian collapse around Vovchansk and Kupyansk is to be expected.
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putin, tome odessa e kharkov por favor, o quanto antes.