Ukrainian Army Chief just said, "The Red Army City front line is as solid as a mountain," but the frontline has already heard soldiers' lament: "Casualties are almost half, it's really impossible to hold on!" This strategic stronghold known as the "meat grinder" in the east of Ukraine, is it now winning or about to collapse? Let's take a look at the latest developments.

First, look at the "bright blueprint" drawn by the Ukrainian military leadership. The confidence was indeed strong. General Syrskyi personally went to the front to supervise the battle, and he gave a chest-thumping assurance to the media: "This place is our fortress area, the situation is fully under control, and the response plan is ready!"

Saying is not doing. This time, the Ukrainian army really deployed its elite forces. The 425th Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Skala," known as "Rock," has been brought over, clearly indicating that they want to plug the gap opened by the Russians and defend the front line at all costs.

More importantly, Syrskyi also announced a "reassuring pill": the previously cut-off supply route has been re-routed! You know, in urban combat, supplies and ammunition are the lifeline. If this line is open, it theoretically can last longer.

Even more, there was a good news from the north: the Ukrainian army surrounded the Russian forces in the Shakhovskiy area! If they can eliminate this group of enemies, it will not only relieve part of the pressure on Red Army City, but also flatten the Russian salient, which has significant tactical significance.

After hearing this, does it feel like "it's stable"? Don't get excited yet. The words of the high-level officials should be taken with the truth from the front line. A front-line officer privately complained to the journalist: "We should have withdrawn long ago! Now we're just holding on, the casualties are so large that it's meaningless, it's just a matter of sacrificing lives!"

This is not made up. There is real and brutal situations supporting it. Now, the front-line units are short of personnel to an absurd degree. Many units have only 20% of their full strength, equivalent to one company having only twenty or thirty people guarding, and the front line is barely able to cover the holes.

Looking at the Russian side, they are really going all out. 50,000 troops are surrounding Red Army City, drones are flying everywhere like they are free, and glide bombs are continuously exploding. Now many places in the city have become "gray zones." They are neither Russian nor Ukrainian, and anyone who enters is shot, making the street fighting even more cruel than hell.

Some say the Russian advance has slowed down, but actually, it's "building up a big move," first using bombing to exhaust the Ukrainian forces, then slowly chewing through the defensive depth, a classic "wasting time instead of fighting."

However, to be fair, the Ukrainian army is not completely collapsed. Except for the tough nut of Red Army City, other directions have gained some advantages: In Kupiansk, the Ukrainian army has already recaptured most of the city and is pushing east to encircle the Russian forces in the north; Chasiv Yar is even more impressive, having recaptured the Levontovskiy district, which the Russians had claimed to have occupied.

In short, the current situation in Red Army City is a complicated one: the Ukrainian military leadership is holding onto the cards of "elite reinforcements + restored logistics" to stubbornly defend this "gateway" of Donetsk; however, the front-line soldiers are facing the desperate situation of "running out of manpower + continuous Russian bombardment," and the signal of being unable to withstand is becoming increasingly obvious.

Actually, this city is the "testing stone" for the Russians. If they can't capture Red Army City, they won't be able to completely capture Donetsk; and if the Ukrainian army loses here, the eastern front line will be torn open. Now it depends on whether the high-level "determination" can withstand the "casualties" from the front line, or whether the Russians, who have the initiative, use a "prolonged war" to wear down the Ukrainian defenses first. The outcome of this "meat grinder" may be clear in a few days.

Regarding the development of the battlefield, Victor Andriyevskyy, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Future Institute, issued a warning, stating that the current combat situation in Pokrovsk is similar to the previous Battle of Bakhmut, both sides have paid heavy costs, and "protecting the living forces has become the core of the defense."

Although the Russian advance has temporarily slowed, the scale of 50,000 troops gathered indicates that a new offensive may be launched, and Myrnohrad, as an important barrier to Pokrovsk, may become the next focus of contention.

Those who believe that the Ukrainian army will collapse immediately, or that the Russians are about to fail, may be disappointed and gradually accept a harsh reality: there will be no winner in the battle of Red Army City, only who suffers more losses.

Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, I am following the developments, and the most important thing is to observe the changes in the form of war, not necessarily being a pro-Russia or pro-Ukraine fan, so please discuss rationally in the comments section.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7571640457885680134/

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