Russia’s special military operation continues in Ukraine on Thursday where units of the Russian army are being deployed Trying to extend control and strike the positions of the Ukrainian forceswhile Kiev continues to resist and receives material and military support from the West in the face of the Russian bear.
In a new development, the Ukrainian military said Russia had withdrawn some of its forces from towns on the bank of the Dnipro River opposite the city of Kherson, in the first official Ukrainian report of a Russian withdrawal from what is now the main front line in the South. The statement provided only limited details and did not mention any Ukrainian forces crossing the Dnipro River.
Ukrainian officials have stressed that Russia has stepped up shelling from across the river, which led to a power outage in Kherson, where electricity did not begin to be restored until nearly 3 weeks after the forces Russians have evacuated the city and fled to the other side of the river. . Since Russia ceded Kherson last month, nine months into its operations in Ukraine, the river now forms the entire southern part of the front.
Russia has already asked civilians to evacuate towns within 15km of the river and has withdrawn its civilian administration from Nova Kakhovska on the riverbank. Ukrainian officials have previously reported that Russia has withdrawn some of the artillery near the river to more secure remote locations, but have thus far stopped short of saying with certainty that Russian forces are withdrawing from cities.
In an earlier field development, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the destruction of the Himars missile launcher with its ammunition and crew in the area of the city of Orikhovatka in the Republic of Donetsk, as well as the destruction of two American missiles also made stations AN / TPQ-37 anti-battery radar in Donetsk. He added that Russian fire hit three points of temporary deployment of foreign mercenary units in the Slavyansk region of the Donetsk People’s Republic. Three depots of missile and artillery weapons and ammunition for Ukrainian forces were destroyed in Donetsk and Zaporozhye region.
Before that, pro-Russian authorities in Donetsk had accused Ukrainian forces of shelling areas of the province with missiles used by NATO. He said in a statement that Ukraine shelled the Kievsky district of Donetsk with 155mm shells.
Russia expands to Donetsk
On the other hand, the Russian Defense Ministry announced control of the Andreevka region in Donetsk, noting that operations continue to tighten its grip on the neighboring Vodianoye region.
AndThe Russian army continues its offensive In the direction of the city of Vodianoye, the Ministry of Defense also declared control over Belogorovka and Berchi Travnya in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic. The Russian military is also close to taking control of the city of Artemovsk, and fighting is ongoing in the city of Marinka within the city.
This comes as a US Department of Defense official, the Pentagon, said a shipment of Patriot missiles could reach Ukraine via an unnamed third country.
The US official added that his country is in discussions with NATO allies about deploying the Patriot system in Ukraine, which will change the rules of the game with Russia.
In early November, Poland’s defense minister asked Germany to deliver a shipment of Patriot surface-to-air missiles originally intended for Poland to Ukraine in order to help Kiev defend itself against Russia.
As for the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, he said that Russia can no longer win the war in Ukraine on the battlefield, noting that Russian attacks on vital infrastructure, water and energy pipes in Ukraine are a horrific strategy.
For his part, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said so on Wednesday Russian forces have been testing new ways of using missiles, troops and artillery In the special military operation in Ukraine.
Shoigu said, “During the military special operation, we tested new ways of using them in combat. First, it is the use of reconnaissance and strike systems, which include drones and advanced and modern samples of weapons.”
Concerns persist in Russia that the Kremlin will renew its mobilization efforts, as Ukrainian forces continue to fight back in the south and east of the country. Moscow suffered a series of battlefield defeats and lost territory in Kharkiv and Kherson.
And while Russian officials announced a “partial mobilization” last month, observers warned that this could continue after the recruits exit Russia’s annual fall recruitment.
