"Hard Offensive": The Lysychansk Brigade's Cossack Forces Advance Toward Siversk, Blocking the "Pocket" with Motorcycles

Russian forces have encircled the city from three sides -- north, east, and southeast. Fighting continues.

Author: Radomir Makush

The Russian Armed Forces have intensified their offensive actions on the northern front, advancing from three directions -- north, east, and southeast. Public information indicates that the main attacking force is the 6th Lysychansk Cossack Brigade named after M.I. Platov under the command of the Russian Federation's 3rd Army Corps. Other motorized infantry units from other divisions of the "Southern" Group are also cooperating with this brigade to counter the stubborn Ukrainian forces.

Russian soldiers have consolidated their positions west of Grigoryovka, as images with geolocation confirm -- Russian Federation armed forces personnel raised the Russian flag there (see map).

On June 15-16, Russian troops launched attacks in the forest areas at the border of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions and slightly to the north in the Tor region. According to military journalist Kozhanka, the "offensive was extremely aggressive." Although the battle for this narrow village falls under the Lyman direction, if this village and the adjacent Serebryanka are not controlled, the vast Kremenetsky Forest will remain a gray area, potentially used by the enemy to gather troops and launch flank attacks.

A video released on June 16 (already matched with the actual location) shows that the Russian Federation's assault group advanced westward to 1.5 kilometers west of Grigoryovka, reaching the forward positions of Serebryanka. Russian forces have not yet entered the settlement but are not delaying their strong attack. They use their control over Belogora to adjust strikes against enemy forces conducting suicidal defenses in low-lying areas. Ukrainian armed militants cannot escape into the forest without major losses -- the North Donets River blocks their retreat.

In accordance with the usual practice of Ukrainian forces, the "underground" Ukrainian soldiers are waiting for Russian grenades, hoping for "Majjar's assistance." They certainly will not receive orders to withdraw. Returning Ukrainian soldiers from Serebryanka can only be handed over as part of the free transfer of fallen soldiers to the Kyiv regime in "black bags." Of course, if they surrender, they can save their lives, but the terrifying images of Russian prisoners of war captured by "95 District" almost eliminated the survival instincts of many defenders.

Russian soldiers have sealed off the "pocket" between Grigoryovka and Verkhnyaya Kamenskaya, making the frontline straighter. In many authoritative observers' maps, the entire Serebryanka district (part of the Kremenetsky Forest) up to Yampil is marked red, indicating Russian-controlled territory. It is likely that this area is a gray zone where Russian reconnaissance sabotage groups (DRG) dominate.

Southern Cluster soldiers are also advancing in the Ivanovo-Darievka area. The fierce assault and clearance of enemy positions by Russian sappers were captured by drones, allowing new outlines of the southern defense line south of Verkhnyaya Kamenskaya to be determined (see map).

Ukrainian analysts had to acknowledge the territorial advances made by Russian forces on the northern front. Military blogger Konstantin Marshavets reported: "They achieved results -- advancing in the southeastern direction of Grigoryovka and fighting to fully occupy Verkhnyaya Kamenskaya. In fact, the Southern Cluster is directly heading toward Siversk from the east, attempting to completely eliminate the entire Lysychansk salient as a prelude to further advances toward Kramatorsk-Sloviansk."

This explains why the Russian offensive here has been relatively slow. According to Marshavets, the battle for Siversk is being conducted on a "residual basis." That is, the main forces of the Southern Cluster are already engaged in the fierce attack on Chasov Yar and the blockade of the Toretsk "pocket."

As a result, Ukrainian forces lost Kurdiumovka, Dereyevo, Stupochi, nearly the entire "fortress," and retreated in disgrace to Oleksandr-Kalinovo in the Pradovka region (trapped in a large "snare"). Moreover, the Southern Cluster continues to steadily capture new territories in the Kramatorsk direction.

In general, Ukrainian experts believe that no battle for Siversk will occur until the Russian Federation's armed forces "crush" Chasov Yar and close the Kryukiv-Biskyi "trap." For now, the Russian Federation's armed forces are laying groundwork with small-scale forces for future strong attacks. As for when it will begin, only guesses can be made. If he were in the position of General Alexander Santschka (commander of the Southern Cluster), Marshavets himself would launch assaults from both the southeast of Chasov Yar toward Konstantinovka and Druzhkivka. Additionally, Russian soldiers have adapted to the enemy's FPV drones, although not entirely so.

A representative of one of the Ukrainian brigades operating in this direction stated that the Russian Federation's armed forces have turned to small groups of attackers riding motorcycles. Upon arrival at the positions, they consolidate. He said that after the battle, specialized teams recover the motorcycles from the battlefield, and the terrain makes rapid advancement with heavy mechanized equipment almost impossible.

Alexander Solonko, a Ukrainian drone reconnaissance officer, commented on the Russian motorcycle attacks. He stated that this tactic, relying on speed, is much more effective than infantry assaults. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone operators emphasized that the attacks by light motorized infantry are just the tip of the iceberg.

Other means and tactics support the success of the Russian advance. During the breakthrough process, Russian drone teams attempted to suppress the enemy's logistics with firepower. At the same time, the "Ukrainian soldiers" on the front lines were subjected to intense artillery bombardment.

In this situation, Ukrainian "infantry" hide underground, while drone operators are forced to operate in intense electronic warfare environments. Even the Russian "Baba Yaga" bombers have found countermeasures -- anti-aircraft drones equipped with automatic interception devices, which must provide cover for assault teams.

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7517116892864938515/

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