File image.
On February 4, the Russian military captured two more settlements from Kiev forces, one close to the city of Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia, and another near the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk.
To the west of Huliaipole, the Vostok [East] Group of Forces, specifically the 114th Guards Regiment of the 5th Combined Arms Army’s 127th Motorised Rifle Division, imposed control over Staroukrainka, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
“An important area of the enemy defence with a territory of more than five square kilometres has been taken under control. Russian troops neutralised a large number of Ukrainian servicemen, up to 10 units of different hardware as well as up to 15 heavy hexacopters,” the ministry said in a statement.
It added that the capture of Staroukrainka allowed Russian troops to advance six kilometres into “enemy defences” west of Huliaipole and to improve the situation in the area.
The capture of the settlement also put the Vostok Group of Forces right on the northern outskirts of Zaliznychne. Russian troops have been already attacking the settlement from the eastern and southern directions. Ukrainian troops there are now very much trapped.
The situation of Kiev forces in Krynychne, located to the north of Staroukrainka, is not any better. The Vostok Group of Forces could launch an attack on the settlement at any moment from now on.
Meanwhile to the west of Kostiantynivka, the Yug [South] Group of Forces captured Stepanovka, according to the daily briefing of the Russian MoD.
While the ministry didn’t provide more details, reports by Russian media said that troops also advanced in the area between the settlement and Kostiantynivka. The troops stormed the southwestern part of Ilyinovka, which is very much linked up with the western part of the city.
The Yug Group of Forces is already present in the southern part of Kostiantynivka, and in a more limited way in the eastern part of the city. With the capture of Stepanovka, and the storming of Ilyinovka, Russian troops could soon launch an offensive in the western part of the city.
Kostiantynivka is a large industrial city with many high-rise buildings, but pressure from several directions could lead to a Ukrainian collapse there, especially that Kiev is already struggling when it comes to manpower.
It’s worth noting that recent Russian advances in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk came amid very poor weather conditions. By spring, if Kiev does not secure enough manpower somehow, and fix its command problems, its defenses in both regions will likely experience a series of collapses.
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fake news!
ukrainians never run and dream of glorious martyrdom!
choices are left for ukrainian puppet troops. run, die or surrender. fighting leads to the previous choices. but, the us has passed another insanely expensive defense bill despite common sense. stupidity alert !