2022-04-30 14:27:04
The main task of the second phase involves establishing full control over Donbass. And there are several factors to consider here:
The Donbass group of the AFU consists of the most trained and motivated units, including those redeployed from Western Ukraine.
The enemy has had eight years to think through and implement a deeply echeloned defense along the entire line of contact with LPR and DPR forces.
The Ukrainian side deliberately does not evacuate the population from the combat zone, using civilians as human shields. Evacuations are only carried out when military personnel are mixed with civilians in evacuation convoys.
All this undoubtedly complicates the main task of the second phase of the Special Military Operation, but does not make it impossible.
The Allied Forces are currently making active attempts to breach the AFU defenses in several places at once:
Slow but steady progress is being made in the Izyum direction.
The Allied forces have completed an operational encirclement of Liman: the entire area is under Russian fire control.
Battles continue for Rubezhnoye, where the enemy defenses are gradually being ground down.
The LPR People's Militia eliminated a powerful fortification in Novotoshkovskoye and advanced toward Orekhovo.
The assault on Popasnaya continues: regular troops, "Kadyrovites" and "Wagner" have been slowly taking the city for a month and a half now.
Popasnaya has been called almost the Stalingrad of the current special operation. Although the comparison is overflowing with pathos, it is nevertheless correct. Yes, there was a successful operation to liberate Mariupol.
But if we compare the scale of forces and means involved, as well as the prospects for the operation, then Popasnaya is one of the critical points for the success of the second phase of the Special Military Operation.
What control of Popasnaya accomplishes
The ability to continue the offensive on multiple fronts simultaneously;
access to a major transport hub - the town of Bakhmut, the occupation of which will disrupt the supply of some of the AFU units;
the possibility of creating several cauldrons and cutting off the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk group from the rest of the AFU forces in the Donbass.
Realizing these prospects, the AFU command moved some units from the agglomeration of Rubezhnoye - Severodonetsk - Lisichansk to Popasnaya. This made it possible to partially compensate for the losses incurred by the 24th Lvov Mechanized Brigade.
Although the Allied Forces already control most of the city, the assault on Popasnaya remains one of the most difficult operations for several reasons. (2/3)
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