Ukrainian troops averted encirclement as Russian forces are poised to seize Velyka Novosilka, Donetsk Oblast, mentioned the one hundred and tenth Separate Mechanised Brigade.
Ukrainian troops efficiently withdrew from some areas to keep away from being encircled however combating is ongoing across the village, which lies round 15 kilometers east of the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
Tools on each side wears skinny however Russian infantry vastly outnumbers the Ukrainian aspect, the brigade wrote on its Telegram channel.
Whereas Russian troops will doubtless seize the village quickly, they are going to wrestle to advance their offensive onward. The Mokri Yaly River creates an impediment for Russia’s advance and Russian troops are in a susceptible “fireplace pocket,” mentioned the brigade.
“Any motion is suppressed by shells and drones," mentioned the brigade.
The river additionally hindered provide routes to the Ukrainians. On Jan 23, Navy spokesperson Viktor Trehubov warned that Ukrainian troops had been susceptible to encirclement.
Russian forces are trying to take management of entry routes to the village by way of heavy fireplace, Trehubov famous.
The Russian Protection Ministry claimed on Jan. 24 that its troops had planted a Russian flag within the middle of Velyka Novosilka and that they’d break up the city in two, reducing off Ukrainian forces. The southern pocket fell most not too long ago.
Consultants advised the Kyiv Unbiased that Ukrainian troops had been doubtless holding onto the village's northwestern areas and Russia anticipated to finish the seize in “days.”
In the event that they do, it is going to be Russia’s first notable win this 12 months.
It’s unclear what number of Ukrainian troops had been trapped contained in the southern pocket in Velyka Novosilka, however it could possibly be round two or three battalions, in line with Pasi Paroinen on the Finland-based open-source intelligence group Black Hen Group. The variety of troopers might be round a number of hundred, he added.
Combating is at a really heavy stage in Donetsk Oblast and Russian troops proceed to advance, albeit slowly, this 12 months. All through the autumn of 2024, Russian forces made operational features in southern Donetsk Oblast, together with areas close to Toretsk and Chasiv Yar, whereas advancing close to Kupiansk and on Russian soil in Kursk Oblast.
The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima