Updates from the Ukrainian Conflict: Advancements and Evolving Dynamics
Ukrainian forces have successfully continued their counter-offensive operations in at least three separate directions. According to an analysis from The Institute for the Study of War, Ukrainian troops advanced between 200 to 500 meters in unspecified sectors of the Bakrid front and 300 to 350 meters in unspecified parts of the Zaparesia front.
This corroborates claims made by Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hannah Malia. In addition, Russian military bloggers have confirmed that Ukrainian forces are indeed continuing their attacks on the northwestern, northeastern, and southwestern outskirts of Bakmut. Ukrainian and Russian sources have also reported that fighting continued in western Don Yescon Blas, particularly around Makariefka and in western Zaparesia, south of Orikev.
There have been unconfirmed reports of a major incident near Cremina in the Hunsks where Ukrainian forces allegedly struck a division of the 20th Combined Arms Army while they were waiting for their Commander to give a speech. If true, this would be a significant blow to the Russian forces. One blogger suggested that this reported strike killed around 100 Russian personnel and wounded a further 100. This has not yet been independently verified, and those seeking evidence of this have not yet found anything definitive. While it’s crucial to treat this information with caution, it’s undoubtedly a topic of intense discussion in the military community.
Ukrainian forces also claim to have intercepted a cruise missile and twenty explosive drones launched by Russia in its latest nighttime attack. However, three other missiles allegedly hit industrial installations in the center-east of Ukraine. On the other side, Russia claims to have downed nine drones over the Crimean Peninsula, according to its Moscow-installed Governor. This news, while not independently verified, aligns with the pattern of similar attacks that have been reported over the past few days.
The other notable military development involves one of the most dangerous men in Chechnya, Adam Delimkhanov, a notorious Chechen member of the Russian Parliament and the right-hand man of Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov. Delimkhanov was reportedly hit in a missile strike in the city of Primorsk on Ukraine’s main south coast. If confirmed, this would be the highest-profile casualty of the Russian invasion.
Delimkhanov’s reputation is stained with controversy and violence. He first came under the spotlight in 2013 when he got into a fistfight with another member of the Russian Parliament. Members of a military unit under his control were found guilty of assassinating Boris Nemtsov, an opposition leader, outside the Kremlin wall in 2015. He’s also alleged to have been involved in a series of violent attacks and killings of gay people in Chechnya in 2018. His disappearance has undoubtedly sent ripples through the political sphere.
On the political front, the Russian Parliament has given initial backing to legislation that would allow the country’s Defense Ministry to sign contracts with suspected or convicted criminals to fight in Ukraine. This overt recruitment of criminals is an extraordinary development that underscores the desperate measures Russia is resorting to more than 15 months into the war.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Central Election Commission has set the date for regional elections in four Ukrainian provinces that Moscow claims to have annexed. This action appears to be an attempt to solidify, both domestically and internationally, the idea that these regions are Russian, not Ukrainian. However, Russia does not fully control these areas, and fighting continues. The liberation of several villages in these regions significantly undermines Russia’s claims.
Lastly, water levels in the flooded Hilsong region have receded, but 28 settlements remain submerged. The UN nuclear chief, Rafael Grossi, has arrived at Zaparesia, though there are no updates from him yet. The images from the region are staggering and highlight the urgency of the situation.
In conclusion, the Ukrainian conflict continues to evolve rapidly. Each day brings new developments, and the situation on the ground is far from static. It is important to stay informed and cautious as we try to understand the complex dynamics at play in this conflict. As the battlefield shifts and political repercussions grow, we must keep a close eye on how these developments will shape the conflict and its outcomes.
