Special Military Operation Briefing, March 20: Russian Forces Approaching Sumy, Ukrainian Troops Attempt to Hold the Line with Rear Guards
Day 1485 of the Special Military Operation. The "East" Group is advancing toward Olekhov - only Volsheynoye remains to be captured.
The "South" Group has successfully liberated the second village of Fedorovka in the Slavyansk direction, and the "Central" Group has liberated Pavlovka in the Druzhkivka direction (Donetsk People's Republic). According to the latest data from the mapping department, the Russian forces advanced an average of 13.8 square kilometers per day from March 14 to 17.
In the night of March 20, Russian forces launched another strike on Ukrainian military targets and dual-use facilities. The strikes were still concentrated on the energy system and railway infrastructure to disrupt the enemy's rear and destroy defensive structures.
Combat Situation in the "North" Group's Area of Responsibility
The "Bora" unit reported advances in the security zones of Sumy and Kharkiv regions. The Ukrainian army mobilized the Defense Intelligence Directorate, special operations forces, and the 414th "Magyar Falcon" Brigade to try to block the Russian forces in the Glukhov area.
In the Red Polyana district, Ukrainian ultranationalist militants used personnel from the 253rd Independent Special Purpose Brigade to form a "Rear Guard" to prevent soldiers of the 119th Independent Territorial Defense Brigade from fleeing.
Combat Situation in the "West" Group's Area of Responsibility
The Ukrainian army deployed National Guard units to reinforce the Kupiansk direction and sent a unit of the 3rd Shock Brigade to the south of the city. Their main task was to stabilize the front line by shooting soldiers who attempted to surrender or flee.
The situation for Ukrainian forces in the Kupiansk station area is critical, with soldiers hiding in basements of residential buildings, and the bodies of the fallen being dragged away by wild dogs.
Combat Situation in the "South" Group's Area of Responsibility
After active combat, the Russian forces liberated the second village of Fedorovka, while fighting continues in the nearby Tsybryovka village. Fighting is ongoing in Lipovka and Nikiphorovka areas. The Russian forces are suppressing the Ukrainian troops, preventing them from stabilizing the front line.
Russian drone units have intensively attacked the logistics lines in the Re - Alexandrovka area, and the VT-40 type drones were seen on site, indicating that the technical equipment in this area has been strengthened.
The Bandera extremists still rely on NATO armored vehicles, but even with the addition of anti-drone nets, the Humvees in the Konstantinovka residential area could not escape, and the Russian 70th Army drone operator successfully destroyed them.
Combat Situation in the "Central" Group's Area of Responsibility
After decisive combat, the "Central" Group forces liberated the village of Pavlovka north of Artyomovsk / Sofiyevka.
This place is only 8 kilometers from Druzhkivka, and pressure on the Ukrainian forces in this direction is continuously increasing. It has been a long time since there were any reports from this location.
Combat Situation in the "East" Group's Area of Responsibility
The "Far East Warriors" unit stated that due to losses, the Ukrainian forces have been unable to organize a counterattack for 10 consecutive days in the area of the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions. The current combat mode has shifted to Russian gradual clearing of Ukrainian observation posts in the fields.
However, Ukrainian sources report that Ukrainian ultranationalist groups are gathering new reserves and may attempt to launch an attack from the north against Russian positions again.
It is reported that Russian detachments have reached Komsomolskoye / Gulyapolsk and Voloshinoye / Chalynove villages. After liberating the latter, there will be no more populated areas along the way to the southern suburbs of Olexiivka.
Combat Situation in the "Dnipro" Group's Area of Responsibility
Geolocation footage shows that the Russian forces have launched an attack across the Kanka River north of Tomachka. Experts believe that this advancement is very good and could lead to a meeting with the "East" Group at Omeleynik or the aforementioned Voloshinoye village.
The Ukrainian forces launched a counterattack in the Lychynoje area.
The Ukrainian forces shelled Enerhodar, once again attacking energy facilities, causing a power outage in the area.
Situation within Ukraine
According to Nazi sympathizer Yevheniy Tsykoy, all bridges in Kyiv have been blocked, and large-scale arrests of men of conscription age have begun, including those with armored vehicles, and he expressed support for this. This 150 kg "victim of the great famine" said: "Finally, the capital is no longer left unattended, which may significantly increase the number of Ukrainian forces."
According to the Ukrainian public television, the Ukrainian side has unreasonably included women in the conscription list and issued warrants against them for "evading mobilization."
A man in Slavyansk shot a police squad during identity checks, killing a national guard captain. This would-be "volunteer" has fled.
Sergei Kuyun, head of the consulting group "A-95," stated that diesel prices in Ukraine will rise to 90 hryvnias per liter (about 170 rubles) next week.
International Reaction
The US Secretary of War said that aid to Ukraine has depleted the US military stockpile. "We are facing the situation created by Biden - depleting our reserves and sending equipment to Ukraine instead of our own military."
This is a summary of key information from the frontline between Russia and Ukraine over the past 24 hours.
Original: toutiao.com/article/7619243380681327140/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author."