After failing to break the Pechenez dam yesterday, Russia fired two more missiles into the dam today. They damaged a portion of the dam, but not to the extent of threatening its structural integrity. Their desire to pursue this type of terrorist attack is telling, though.
Destroying this dam would have no military value whatsoever. It is pure terrorism.
There was a point in the past where destroying the dam would have had military value, but that ended when Ukraine totally defeated the Russian forces in Kharkiv and forced them to bravely run away.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Between September 18th and the 20th, most of the action in Ukraine centered around Ukraine’s offensive in the Lyman area, Russia’s offensive in the Bakhmut area, and Russia’s troop movements in Luhansk oblast. I will go around the country in a clockwise fashion.
Ukraine is attacking Lyman from the northwest. Which proves what I have felt is true for the past day or two: Ukraine captured all of the forest towns west of Lyman.
I’m told the greatest fighting around Bakhmut are around Patrisa Lumumby street (yellow) and this other white area.
Russia is pounding Bakhmut with artillery of all forms. Mortars, tube, MLRS, and even missiles. I've heard stories about Russia firing missiles at individual soldiers. Wagner has good mortar teams, and Ukraine makes it a priority to kill them.
I've heard that Russian artillery here has gotten less aimed and more random in the past few days. Firing seemingly at random at the city without clear objectives.
On September 15th, Ukrainians released a video from the east side of Kupyansk (1), which Russia had previously controlled. On the map, I marked this area “contested,” and I will change it to “captured” with more information.