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In recent days, the Russian military went on the offensive on the southern and northern flanks of the Artemovsk ( former Bakhmut) front. Ukrainian sources and military commanders confirm that Ukrainian forces are now loosing the territory for which they have been fighting since June.
To the south, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation entered launched counterattacks and approached the village Kleshcheevka. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have been trying to break through the village and the railway to the east for several months. As a result of Russian attacks, Ukrainian forces were forced to retreat and abandon their positions to the north of the village and go to defense.
According to the latest reports from the front, after massive artillery shelling, Russian forces entered the ruined settlement and battles are ongoing in Klescheevka. The village is mainly in the gray zone. Since it was heavily damaged by the battles, there are almost no strongholds left in the buildings. The AFU are still in control of the dominant height to the west of Klescheevka. To claim control of the ruins of the village, the Russian military has to capture the height again and mop up the areas nearby.
The village of Andreevka is also in the grey zone, while Kurdyumovka remains under Russian control.
Several days ago, Russian forces also launched attacks north of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut) and the Ukrainian command was forced to transfer some forces from the southern flank to the north. As a result, Ukrainian defense near Klescheevka and Andreevka was weakened. The recent attacks from Berkhovka allowed the Russian military to advance 1.5 km in the area of the water reservoir and approach Bogdanovka.
One of the main reasons for the Russian tactical successes in the Artyomovsk (Bakhmut) region is likely Russian advance around Avdeevka in the Donetsk direction. The threat of encirclement forced the AFU command to transfer part of the reserves of the Artemovsk grouping to the Avdeevka direction. It its turn, the Russian military took advantage of the situation.
