War in Ukraine - Advance from the tube - Russians succeed in surprise attack
For months, Ukraine has been losing ground continuously in the east – the entire front is sliding, but only imperceptibly. Two pillars of the front are being fiercely defended: The Ukrainian forces are still holding the fortress of Tschassiw Jar. However, the Russian forces have managed to improve their positions at the city's flanks in prolonged fighting. They have taken control of the majority of a district located to the east of the Siverskyj-Donets Canal. However, they have not been able to penetrate the city to the west of the canal. The Ukrainians have been holding out in the settlement of Krasnogorowka for months.
Pipes and Tunnels run through the Donbass
There was an unexpected advance of the Russians in the area between the Russian-held cities of Bachmut and Horliwka and the Ukrainian-held Dserschynsk. There, they used a trick that decided the Battle of Awdijiwka. They used a pipe to make an unnoticed advance.
The entire resource-rich Donbass region has been covered in heavy industry since the 1930s. Today, the huge industrial complexes, some of which have their own bunker systems, are focal points of the fighting. But the numerous canals, waterways, and reservoirs also shape the landscape and the battles. Part of this industry consists of these pipes and tunnels.
"A large Ukrainian army fortification at the edge of the settlement Kirov was taken by assault units from the Russian Kampfgruppe Zentrum, who used an underground tunnel. The soldiers of the unit cleared and used the over three-kilometer-long tunnel along the Siverskyj-Donets Canal and reached the rear of the well-fortified fortification, which is equipped with firing positions and underground shelters. The tunnel was used to supply the assault units with ammunition, weapons, and supplies," according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
No precise location was given. The advance occurred presumably between the western outskirts of Horliwka in the direction of the settlement Druzhba. The Russians have advanced several kilometers in the tunnel unnoticed. In this war, that is a huge distance. The pipes run along the Siverskyj-Donets Canal, which partly runs open and partly as a tunnel. There, the Russians have appeared in the rear of a Ukrainian stronghold – a large, isolated industrial building at the end of the open canal – on satellite images, the pipes are also clearly visible.
Strike against the airport
The capture of the fortified position leads to the fact that the Ukrainian forces are abandoning or have already abandoned their fortifications in the adjacent open terrain. The Russians have also worked their way around the settlement conglomerate around Dserschynsk.
At the entire eastern front, Ukrainian forces managed to achieve success only in the Kreminna forest. There, the 12th Special Brigade was able to penetrate Russian positions. However, Kiev had to endure another heavy blow for this. In the last few weeks, Ukraine has regularly used cruise missiles in the Charkiw area. With this, they provided their ground troops in the northern part of Voltschansk in the citadel – the high-rise district – with air support. Now, Russian reconnaissance drones have discovered Su-27 jets on the ground. Probably while they were preparing for a new mission at the Myrhorod airfield in Poltawa, they were surprised by an Iskander missile. The Russians speak of five destroyed machines, Kiev of two damaged.
Somehow, this operation is a warning sign. With Iskander missiles, the Russians can attack any airfield in Ukraine, the combat head with cluster munitions makes the weapon very dangerous for jets on the ground. The most alarming thing, however, is that Russian reconnaissance drones are operating so deep in the hinterland.
- Despite the Russian forces' advance in the Donets Basin, the Ukrainian forces have been successfully holding out in the settlement of Krasnogorowka, particularly at a large fortification located near its edge.
- During the Battle of Awdijiwka, the Russians exploited a pipe system for an unnoticed advance between Horliwka and Dserschynsk, allowing them to make significant progress in the war.
- In the Donbass region, which has been heavily industrialized since the 1930s, numerous canals, waterways, reservoirs, and pipe networks have played a crucial role in shaping the battles, providing cover and potential strategic advantages for both armed forces.
- After a successful strike against a Ukrainian airfield, Russian reconnaissance drones have been spotted operating deep in the hinterland of Ukraine, raising concerns about potential future attacks and the erosion of Ukraine's air defense capabilities.
