Explosions or small arms are constantly heard. In the destroyed city, assault groups fight at distances of 20-30 meters, everyone moves from house to house with weapons at the ready, because the enemy is constantly trying to find cracks and wedge.
During the shooting, the locals are shocked, some are walking the dog in the yard, when they chirp nearby from all sides, and the bullets whistle in all directions, watering the walls. I can’t get used to from Severodonetsk that there are people who, even when shells destroy their homes and shoot at point blank range, try to prolong their peaceful life, as if the war does not touch themif they carefully ignore it. The locals live on the help of humanitarian organizations, which they brought for the new year, and their supplies, there is no connection. Our fighters feed those who ask for help.
Russian troops continue to storm Soledar every day, starting from December 27th. “Putin’s penal battalions” from the Wagner group and the Russian airborne troops are trying to knock out the city, defended by the 46th airborne brigade. It is difficult to describe in words how clearly and professionally the paratroopers fight, how each of them is constantly and continuously engaged in combat work. These warriors don’t need sympathy – they just need bullets, mines, “marriage mavic”, starlinks, tanks, HIMARS. They work to defeat and destroy the enemy.
Russian losses are difficult to calculate. Assault groups of Russian prisoners and volunteer mercenaries press forward to complete destruction. They are sent simultaneously from different directions day and night to move forward at any cost, despite the accurate shooting of the paratroopers, most of whom have already killed quite a few invaders on their own. Our artillery, tanks and missiles deliver accurate and corrective strikes. The Russians are trying to suppress our deadly artillery, using Lancet drones.
Russia needs political success, it wants to capture a Ukrainian city to show that mobilization allowed Putin to turn the tide of war. And the Russians do not take into account the losses at Soledar. By this time, the enemy had advanced into the city from three directions. Most of Soledar is under our fire control, but the enemy has managed to enter the buildings.
At the same time, the defense of the city remains effective, the 46th brigade acts thoughtfully, all actions are balanced and clear, the fighters fully trust their commanders. The 46th brigade deserves, in my opinion, the highest award. And whoever did not provide the paratroopers with the necessary support needs an objective assessment.
Our command sees the situation, sees threats from the flanks and a lot is being done to strengthen the defense. We have a lot of forces in this area, there are problems with control in some places, but they are solved by commanders who understand that the fate of the battle for Soledar depends on them.
Photo: Facebook/Yuri Butusov
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