Bisnis.comJAKARTA – Troops Russia began hitting the northern and southern sections of the frontline in Ukraine’s Donbass region, after Kiev said Moscow’s offensive had weakened near the town of Bakhmut.
military report Ukraine describes heavy fighting along a line from Lyman to Kupiansk, as well as further south at Avdiivka, on the outskirts of Russian-controlled Donetsk.
Both regions have been key targets for Russia in its winter campaign to completely take over Ukraine’s industrial Donbass region.
The offensive has so far brought few gains, although thousands of soldiers on both sides have died in the bloodiest fighting of the war.
At a Ukrainian artillery position in dense pine forest behind the northern stretch of the front line, troops fired 155 mm shells from French TRF-1 howitzers towards a highway used to supply the Russian-controlled Kreminna.
“Fortunately, we are in the same position. Because we are facing a very powerful enemy with very good weaponry. They are professional troops, including airborne troops,” a soldier said.
When the order came with the coordinates, the crew jumped into position, dropped their camouflage, aimed, charged, and fired.
After three shots, they lowered the muzzle, raised it, and returned to the bunker to await further orders. Artillery and small arms fire could be heard in the distance.
The front line has barely moved since November, despite heavy fighting. Ukraine managed to retake most of its territory in the second half of 2022, but has since remained largely on the defensive, while Russia attacked with hundreds of thousands of freshly called up reservists and convicts recruited from prison.
Meanwhile, the President of the United States (US) Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau reiterated their unwavering support for the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Putin’s brutal invasion.
The Ukrainian army commander said the Russian offensive against Bakhmut, a small town that has been at the center of the biggest fighting of the war, seemed to be losing ground and Kiev could soon launch an offensive.
For now, Ukrainian troops are focused on preventing the Russian advance along the more than 300 kilometers of the Donbass front, from Kupiansk in the north to Vuhledar in the south.
“The shelling in Avdiivka did not stop with artillery, rockets, mortars,” Tavria Ukraine military command Oleksiy Dmytrashkyvskyi said.
Eastern Command spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi said Russia was mainly focusing on the stretch from Kupiansk to Lyman that has been taken over by Ukrainian forces by 2022.
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