All the moves of Russia in eastern Ukraine
In eastern Ukraine, the Russians take the port of Mariupol and fight hard in the Kharkiv area. Rid's analysis – Italian Defense Magazine
The battle for the Donbass, as we wrote yesterday, has begun but some news are also recorded in the Kharkiv area, where the Russians have attempted an offensive attack, concentrated especially on the north of the city. At the same time, the arrival of Russian units specialized in the repair of railway and road infrastructure was noted, and this could preclude a renewed effort in the conquest of Kharkiv, more than on the southern front of Izyum, on which the Russian initiative is currently stalled. Moreover, the 92nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Army passed Chuhuiv, southeast of Kharkiv, reaching as far as Zolochoi. This episode, in fact, could threaten the shoulders of the Russian axis of Izyum, and this could also explain why the Russian initiative south of that city has stopped.
THE SITUATION IN SLOVYANSK AND KRAMATORSK
The threat on the 2 major Donbass centers of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk therefore continues to persist from the south-east, with indirect fire barrages on Avdiivka, Maryinka and Novogrodivka. While the former has seen some limited Ukrainian setbacks, the others are not yet subject to those ground attacks that continue to occur on Vulhedar and Novoselivka Druha by troops from Volnovaha; the movements of which seem to be disturbed by partisan actions.
WHAT HAPPENS IN SEVERODONETSK
In the Severodonetsk area, the settlements of Lysychansk, Kreminna, Stepne, Novotoshkivske, Rubizhne, Solodke and Popasna continue to be the subject of fierce fighting, with Popasna also targeted by TOCHKA-U ballistic missiles.
THE FIGHTING IN MARIUPOL
In Mariupol, the separatist forces of the Republic of Donetsk announced yesterday the capture of the port, but the fighting continues in the area of the AzovStal steelworks and in a pocket of resistance that would have remained behind the port, roughly the area of the neighborhoods of Primorsky, Nahimova and part of Strayteli. Many buildings have gone up in flames, perhaps due to sustained actions of TOS-1 thermobaric rocket launchers, and the use of UR-77 METEORIT demining vehicles has even been observed, used in the demolition sense by placing explosive charges directly on the buildings. To this must be added the large-scale use by Russian and pro-Russian troops of thermobaric RPO-S SHMELS rocket launchers.
THE AZOVSTAL STEEL MILLS
The goal, in fact, is precisely to "flush out" the defenders from areas full of obstacles, underground positions, tunnels, etc. In this context, we must read the news of an alleged use of chemical weapons, precisely against the immense AzovStal steel mills, which would have occurred yesterday evening. At the moment there is no confirmation in this regard: the news was given by the AZOV Regiment of the Ukrainian National Guard, which spoke of the release of chemicals by drones, but the testimonies coming from the place are rather contradictory. Moreover, it cannot be ruled out that they could be "grenades" loaded with tear gas agents in overdose. We will monitor the situation in this regard in the next few hours.
BOMBING IN HULIAIOPOLE
Moving further south, in the area of Huliaiopole, Russian bombing by indirect fire of all kinds was joined by aerial attacks carried out with Kh-29 air-to-surface precision missiles.
COUNTERATTACKS ON OLEKSANDRIVKA
On the Kherson front, Russian counterattacks on Oleksandrivka and Osokorkivka were unsuccessful, while the slow approach of Ukrainian troops to the city led to even more extensive protests against the occupiers than those that took place in the previous weeks. and to which Rosgardya responded by firing into the air.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/russia-est-ucraina/ on Tue, 12 Apr 2022 12:23:57 +0000.