Keep in mind, the frontline is constantly moving and positions are changing hands.
Kupyansk
A shelling was reported in the area of Vil'shana today, this is the 5th time shellings are reported on the town over a period of 1 month.
Not very interesting in it's self, but with the recent reports of increased fighting around Lyman Pershyi, it could indicate some movement in an area which has more or less been at a standstill for months.
Svatove
The AFU repulsed attacks around Stel'makhivka and Andriivka. The AFU reported a shelling in the area of Kovalivka for the first time since October, I think it is possible the AFU have advanced slightly there.
Very late yesterday I reported about possible AFU progress NW of Svatove, read more in yesterdays thread.
The AFU repulsed attacks around Ploshchanka, Chervonopopivka and Bilohorivka. I believe the AFU continues their offensive south of Kreminna and Dibrova. The AFU reported they advanced 2.5k towards Kreminna this week.
Bakhmut
The AFU repulsed attacks around Soledar, Bakhmuts'ke, Pidhorodne, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka and Kurdyumivka. Pro ru channels report progress around Pidhorodne (they allegedly took two trenches). This tells us a little about what the Russians consider a victory these days.
I stand by the assessment I made in November. But I do have to change it a bit. The wording "not within the realm of possibilities" is perhaps an exaggeration.
I find it unlikely the Russians will succeed in their aim to encircle Bakhmut and capture it. However, more and more as we go, the offensive potential for both sided will be determined by the production rate of ammunition.
I think it's likely this will favor UA, but to be honest, I have not read up on it enough.
Donetsk
RuAF have in some places advanced several kilometers in this area the last 8 years. A lot of people make fun of the RU construction of static defenses, but it was pointed out to me yesterday, that static defenses are exactly why this frontline has not moved in years.
The Ukrainian general staff reported strikes on RU positions and equipment in Tokmak, Tytove, Chernihivka, Pology and Berdyansk. It is obvious the AFU are systematically targeting high value logistics and command positions of the RU forces.
I had a quick look at Engels today, I could not see any obvious sings of impacts or destruction. The snow does not help.
The Engels image is representative of what it looks like, I did look at a much larger area.
The orcs had a "Mechanical" failure in the Avdiivka area.
🧵The situation in Vovchansk is interesting. The map shows geolocated positions the last 8 days h/t @UAControlMap. When the first rumors about an encirclement at the aggregate plant, I thought it was BS. But it appears there is some truth to it, supposedly 83rd VDV.
The extent of isolation and the amount of people is unclear. Once interesting thing is the Russians committed one of their best units, 2nd Special Purpose Brigade to fight in the town. We have mostly seen poorly trained and equipped units without mechanized support in this fight
According to RU channels UA withdrew from the Filtration Plant in the east and Zenith in the south. This is good news, since avoiding an encirclement should be a priority at this point. It seems the coke plant and Kvartal high-rises are the current UA strongholds.
RU forces continue to try to fully encircle Avdiivka pushing mainly from 3 directions.
It remains to be seen if Ukraine are planning to withdraw from the east side of the city, but I think it's a pretty good idea to do so.
UA might chose to fight for the coke plant and Kvartal for a bit, but the gap for the gloc is only 3km and consists of 2 windbreaks.
I frequently get questions like:
"Are you ok?"
"What happened?"
"Why did you stop posting?"
So here we go⬇️
Yes I'm ok.
(This post is sponsored by Ramzan Fragglerov)
Time.
I have less time to follow Ukraine. I usually spent about 3-4 hours a day to just make my daily threads and going through all the information channels. To be able to keep the information reliable, I have to put in 6-10h per day. I dont have that kind of time anymore.
I lost my best friend in March, so I had go get a new one. He is getting a lot of my attention now.
🧵During the last week, Ukrainian forces have advanced 32km2 in the Robotyne direction. They are expanding their penetration of the Surovikin and have reached the outskirts of Verbove and Verbove.