Update from Donetsk Front: The contradicting intel on Vuhledar is clarified as Rybar (pro-Russian source) corroborated SuriyakMap's report - which confirms DeepStateUA's assertions that Vuhledar is fully under Ukrainian control.
Rybar also confirmed that Russian forces lost control of the dachas east of Vuhledar; and corroborated the intel that Russian forces is currently attacking towards the South Donbass Mine No.1 from Mykilske direction.
Ukrainian forces after successfully pushing out the Russians, tried to continue their counteroffensive, but the operation failed. Russian forces then launch another offensive that forced the Ukrainian back into Vuhledar.
As such, the Ukrainian forces tries to consolidate the frontlines by remote mining all approaches to Vuhledar as well as the main roads on the S / SE sides of Vuhledar's circumference. Entrenched positions are also equipped outside of Vuhledar, in the N and NE forest belts.
This is the link to the report by the 3 Russian hacker group that discovered the entire ukrainian network of "russian" telegram channels that the Ukrainians used to publish misinformation as well as solicit money "for the russian troops".
Lets write a short thread on the multi-facet geopolitical reality of the Ukraine War.
Prior to 2014, Ukraine is a 50-50 country. Half the people are pro-west; half are pro-russia. The president then was pro-russian voted in with 90% votes in the donbass region.
Overthrow him without due process, what do you think the regions who voted him with 90% votes gonna think or do?
The violence at maidan may or may not be instigated by the west; but regardless, that happened. and used as an excuse to overthrow the president.
Anarchy.
Russia's only western warm naval base is in Crimea, and it is leased to them due to soviet era politics where Crimea was cut away from Russia to give to Ukraine to strengthen Ukraine for internal political reasons.
Russian forces are currently stepping up their Avdiivka Offensive, where OSINT reports bigger and heavier bombs being used on the city targets.
Russian forces are also attacking across the entire front, from Pervomaiske all the way to Avdiivka itself on the western flank, and from Kamyanka all the way to Novokalynove on the northern flank.
In a curious turn of event, Zelenskyy puts out a very public video, claiming that he accepted his generals' decision to stay and fight for Bakhmut; instead of the tactical/organised withdrawal that is reportedly underway.
This could either be Zelenskyy throwing the generals under the bus; or perhaps the generals indeed is responding to the Wagner PMC's ammunition woes; to ride on the effectivenss of the counteroffensives thus far, to retake the surrounding regions of Bakhmut.
Mass Ukrainian withdrawal reported from the central and western districts of Bakhmut, and the withdrawal conducted along the country roads between Khromove and Ivanivske.