Hello everybody!
Just a very brief one.
Today, you’re going to ‘hear’ (i.e. read in the social media) about ‘fighting inside Klishchivka’, and ‘fighting inside Andriivka’.
Actually, the ZSU is mopping up the remaining Russians along the eastern side of Klishchivka, and - especially - de-mining the place and clearing the wreckage and bodies sufficiently to enable a free movement of its own troops (and their hygienic survival there).
…..because, and just like after the withdrawal of the Wagner PMC from south-eastern Tripoli, back in 2019, the place is full of mines and booby-traps, and full of wreckage of destroyed vehicles, decomposting bodies (and body-pieces) of the Russian troops, many of which are booby-trapped, too.
Meanwhile, surviving remnants of the 83rd VDV Brigade, the 57th and 72nd Motor Rifle Brigades are falling back towards the east: only their rearguards are still offering resistance.
More serious is the Russian resistance along the eastern side of Andriivka and the eastern and southern side of Kurdiumivka, further south…
(The ‘final episode of this drama’ began about a week ago, when the Keystone Cops decided to sack General Teplinsky, commander of the VDV. Because he was complaining about the misuse of ‘his’ troops. Now, due to protesting of ‘his’ troops, he was not sacked: ‘just’ demoted and sent to the frontline, to command the VDV in the Bakhmut area. And so, the VDV counterattacked into Klishchivka. And since both Pudding and the Keystone Cops only listen to the ‘good news’, and the ‘good news’ in the social media was that the Russians were ‘still holding out inside Klishchivka’, although the place is under Ukrainian control for something like 10 days… and pesky Ukrainians didn’t release any kind of videos showing something else… well, multiple VDV columns drove into the village - straight into ‘bombastic welcome’ by the ZSU, which didn’t mind letting them get ‘really close’ before opening fire. The usual outcome was something like visible on these two videos.)
‘Atop’ of that, after repelling another series of Russian counterattacks, the ZSU is mopping up southern Staromaiorske, and whatever Russian troops are still between that place and Urozhaine…
Ah yes: and in the Staromairoske area, the 38th Naval Infantry killed one of Russian Ka-52 helicopters…
….and (yes, once again), since 23rd July, the ZSU is grinding down hedgerows south-east of Robotyne. ‘Official’ explanation of Russian PRBS-industrialists and Pudding-fans about results is something like, ‘in the light of heavy Ukrainian shelling, Russian Army withdrew to better positions’….
….and abandoned the dominating height and position in this area, granting the ZSU the fire-control over Robotyne, eh….?
….Pudding’s PRBS-industrialists and their skills in ‘bending’ and ‘winding’….
***
Of course, since ‘there are no videos’, nothing of this has ever happened…. or ‘is going to happen’ in a few days…
Thank you. After your report of yesterday, the news from today are somewhat letting me breathe again.
Another great report, Tom. It reminds me a bit of the grinding fighting that went on in Normandy post D-Day. Then the Allies struck with Operation Cobra to break through the lines... but without air power, I don't think a Ukrainian Operation Cobra is in the offing. Unfortunately.