Latest situation in the Shakhov area to the north of the Red Army Village!

On August 21, Ukrainian media (source: RBC Ukraine) reported that one of the key factors enabling the Ukrainian army to successfully block a Russian tactical breakthrough in the Jinjing village was the continuous control of the Vladimirovka-Shakhov area.

For almost a month, this area has been defended by the 1st Battalion of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade and the 4th Battalion of the 4th "Rubezh" National Guard Brigade, with support from the 1st Independent Assault Regiment and the 25th Independent Assault Battalion.

On almost all open-source maps, this section of the front line is depicted as a significant bulge penetrating into Russian positions. These map authors typically use this bulge as a basis, drawing large and thick arrows pointing west and south, indicating that the Ukrainian forces have cut through the bottom of the Russian gap along these arrows, slicing the Drobobylia bulge into a large encirclement that would swallow thousands of Russian soldiers.

In reality, the actual role of this Ukrainian bulge over the past two weeks has been a roadblock, a narrow strip squeezed into the Kazonitolets River valley, encircling the eastern part of the river valley and a small bridgehead on the western bank surrounding Shakhov. This bridgehead allows only a platoon or up to a company of troops to conduct small-scale counterattacks against the eastern segment of the Russian gap in the Kucheryivya area.

The Ukrainian forces in this area are defending two tactically important hills, the 183rd Hill (48.480, 37.33407) located in the northwest suburbs of Shakhov and the 164th Hill (48.4801, 37.4261) in the eastern suburbs of Sofiyivka.

The current status of the 206th Hill (48.4995, 37.34546) is unclear, but it is likely that it was captured by the Russian 132th Brigade around August 6, although this claim has not been fully confirmed. However, in the past two weeks, this Russian unit has mainly provided cover in the direction of Shakhov, focusing its efforts on breaking through the new Donbas front line in the Jinjing village area.

Currently, only the 39th Infantry Brigade is primarily conducting offensive operations against Shakhov. This brigade has launched an attack on the 164th Hill from the previously occupied Portavka River base, along the western bank of the Portavka River.

Over the past two weeks, Russian aircraft have dropped more than 30 FAB bombs on Ukrainian positions located in the forested areas at the top of the hills. If the Russians capture the 164th Hill, it will effectively force the Ukrainian forces to abandon the Vladimirovka-Shakhov area and withdraw northward.

Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1841033735240835/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.