Russia launches assault to encircle Ukraine troops in east

[867-5309.]

Source: Reuters

Russian forces were launching an all-out assault to encircle Ukrainian troops in twin cities straddling a river in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, a battle which could determine the success or failure of Moscow's main campaign in the east.

Exactly three months after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, authorities in its second-largest city Kharkiv re-opened the underground metro, where thousands of civilians had sheltered for months under relentless bombardment.

The reopening was evidence of Ukraine's biggest military success over the past few weeks: pushing Russian forces largely out of artillery range of Kharkiv, as they did from the capital Kyiv in March.

But the decisive battles of the war's latest phase are still raging further south, where Moscow is attempting to seize the Donbas region of two eastern provinces, Donetsk and Luhansk, and trap Ukrainian forces in a pocket on the main eastern front.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-oil-embargo-in-days-ukraine-isolation-drives-russia-closer-china-2022-05-23/

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Hope like hell they get their asses beat back - again.

[peppertree]

1. Another Russian wreck in the making

Prayers to Astarte (Goddess of War, among other things).

[Tomconroy]

2. There's a very good article in the NY Times with maps that

Makes quite clear what is going on. Even I can understand it.

Russia’s Shrinking War https://nyti.ms/3a6Mw39

Worth the price of subscribing. The one thing that it doesn't make clear is that the Ukraine general staff and a number of experts (not Michael Korfman who was an advisor on the Times article and who consistently underestimates Ukraine capabilities) predict that the stalemate will end and Ukraine will go on the offensive in August.

[nuxvomica]

3. Thanks for posting

Good interactive page with maps, making the situation clear.

[Tomconroy]

5. Yes. I find the story very hard to follow but this makes it clear.

[Postal Grunt]

8. RE: August

August is the expected date for the introduction of the first reserve troops into active duty after they have been trained and equipped. The motivation is already present. Approximately 200,000 reservists will be available and there will be more activated after training and equipping. Its going to be a numbers game by the end of summer.

[TygrBright]

4. I don't think this is going to go how they want it to go. n/t

[blue-wave]

6. At the moment, they are holding strong

per the Ukrainian news agency UkrInform. The town mentioned is critical for Ukriane to hold.


The town of Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk region, is completely controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. The Armed Forces of Ukraine hold the defense.

"Sievierodonetsk is completely controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. The Armed Forces of Ukraine hold the defense. But the situation is very difficult. We see the Russians throwing all their forces to either capture Sievierodonetsk or lay siege to the government-controlled part of Luhansk region," Head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Haidai said during the nationwide telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

In Luhansk direction, he said, there are 25 Russian battalion groups, each numbering up to 500 people, totaling 10,000 troops at least, as well as huge amount of equipment.

Haidai clarified that “there are no battles in Sievierodonetsk. There are battles on the outskirts, because sometimes it is possible to achieve some success in certain areas, in the villages near Sievierodonetsk, but there are no battles in the town itself."

According to the Head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, the shelling of Sievierodonetsk has increased manifold, and the invaders may make a breakthrough, but the Ukrainian troops hold strong defense.

"They [invaders] may succeed somewhere, but our guys are very motivated, they stay there, there have weapons. Today we have been defending for exactly three months. Three months have passed, and they [Russians] unable get through even a small part of Luhansk region. We will hold it as long as necessary, "Haidai said.

As reported, Luhansk region is under constant Russian fire. Many residential buildings, infrastructure facilities, educational institutions have been destroyed and hospitals have been damaged. Until recently, about 40,000 civilians stayed in the region refusing to evacuate.

Link: https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3491096-sievierodonetsk-completely-controlled-by-ukrainian-authorities-haidai.html

[IronLionZion]

7. Russia has underestimated Ukrainian troops this whole time

so I hope they get their asses kicked all the way back to Russia.