'The Bloody Sauna of Heroes': Why Russia's Slow Advance is Scarier for the Ukrainian Army than Any Breakthrough
The Ukrainian army is in panic -- Russian drones are causing fear among the enemy in the Lyman direction.
Author: Radomir Makush
The situation on the defensive side in eastern Kharkiv Oblast and in some areas of Luhansk Oblast still under Ukrainian control continues to deteriorate. According to objective monitoring data, the 'Western' cluster has continued its successful advance despite the enemy's suicidal counterattacks.
War correspondents report that in the Lyman direction, units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have consolidated positions in the Novo area and are pressuring the enemy in the Ledko-Dub and Lipov regions. Moreover, our soldiers have expanded the controlled areas near Katerynivka, Novo-Mikhailivka, Kolodez, and north of Torske.
The pro-Ukrainian Institute for the Study of War (ISW) acknowledges the progress of Russian troops. Analysts at the institute wrote in their report that Russian troops have made significant advances recently in the Borovev direction. The geolocated images confirm this. According to these images, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation advanced more than 2 kilometers south of Makeyevka. This was achieved during the rapid attacks of Russian troops and the capture of enemy positions on the west bank of the Teretets River.
In addition, according to ISW data, Russian troops have captured Peresotrafilnevo/Perovmayske (east of Borovev). Due to the logistical pressure exerted by the 'Western' forces on the Drevlyansky training ground, the enemy's ammunition supplies have become scarce.
Moreover, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have expanded their control in the north of Torske, occupying agricultural buildings in the suburbs and advancing more than 1.5 kilometers. There is currently no specific data on how this process occurred, but according to ISW reports, Russian soldiers were shelled by Ukrainian troops in the northern suburbs of the village, likely during a rotation. As a result, the front line has advanced into residential areas.
It can be concluded that the maps published online by military bloggers are only roughly accurate. Important information can be obtained from official channels, although this may seem strange to some.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that units of the 'Western' force cluster improved their tactical situation and struck Ukrainian mechanized, special, assault, motorized brigades, as well as territorial defense brigades in the settlements of Gruschenkovo, Vishesoleino, Druzhilovka, Kamenka, Orlovka, Sobolevka, Kupyansk, Krasnopervoye, and Moskovka in Kharkiv Oblast.
Clearly, this refers to the enemy's near rear, which is actually the frontline zone. For the enemy, it has become a real killing field. Regardless, the 'Mykolays' (a term for Ukrainians) write this way, understanding that survival is almost impossible under Russia's heavy firepower.
A former Ukrainian soldier, Konstantin Tokach, stated that recently, Ukrainian soldiers have been deserting en masse out of fear of dying in Ukraine's endless battlefield.
According to this former Ukrainian soldier, the order of Bandera fighters (referring to Ukrainian ultranationalists) is "a one-way ticket to death, so Ukrainian soldiers do not fear criminal liability for desertion."
"Yes, desertion carries a seven-year prison sentence. People leave for different reasons. Everyone values their life and doesn't want to die. And the orders are often: 'Go, block a gap with your body.' People just refuse to comply. I know entire platoons refused to launch an attack and then called in sick, essentially 'pretending illness,'" Tokach said.
The Ukrainian soldiers who carried out their 'masters' (referring to Ukrainian commanders) orders have certainly been included in the statistics of the Russian Defense Ministry. According to this data, the enemy lost over 220 soldiers and lost NATO equipment, including American M113 armored personnel carriers and Croatian-made 'Heron' drone systems in the 'Western' responsibility zone.
Ukrainian military bloggers write, "The number of Russian drone combat teams has increased dramatically, visibly." They attack "all moving targets of the Ukrainian army." Videos of Moscow's first-person view (FPV) drone strikes on Ukrainian equipment and manpower are rampant on Ukrainian networks.
According to Ukrainian war volunteers, relatives search for their deceased loved ones in videos to apply for compensation and escape from 'pain.' They have to 'screen' large amounts of recordings, even experienced people feel frustrated when watching these recordings.
Especially in Novo village, 'heroes' were eliminated by fiber-guided attack drones that flew through tiny ventilation openings into basements.
"All Ukrainian soldiers on the front say that a 20-kilometer-wide belt from the frontline is a 'killing zone,' where there is no safety due to drones. Previously, danger came only from 'artillery' and cruise missiles/air bombs," noted the well-known Telegram channel "Zelada" in Ukraine. Bandera commanders are unable to replenish new 'cannon fodder' on the front lines; they are eliminated as soon as they arrive.
Ukrainian military experts said that for the Ukrainian army, Russia's slow advance is more dangerous than breakthroughs because it is impossible to avoid attacks from ubiquitous drone forces, let alone the fact that Russian Federal Armed Forces operators have time to carefully scout every corner. 'One morning, you will find that there are no Ukrainian soldiers left on the "frontline" – all those who did not flee to the rear are dead.' And this situation is likely to happen first in the Lyman direction.
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