Russian Forces Establish a New Bridgehead in the Donetsk People's Republic, Further Complicating the Ukrainian Situation

Author: Andrey Lezchikov

After controlling the interfluve between the Volchya and Mokryi Yalovat rivers in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), Russian forces have established a new bridgehead, creating conditions for an advance towards the Dnipropeetrovsk region. This development stems from Russian forces liberating several settlements during a rapid offensive this week. Experts point out that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are struggling to resist pressure in the Sumy region, opening up new possibilities for operations in the Donetsk area.

On Saturday, Russian forces expelled the enemy from Red Zelenskoye (renamed Zelenskoye by the Kyiv authorities since 2016), expanding the "Eastern" group's controlled areas southward into the village of Zaporozhye within the Donetsk People's Republic. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, units of the 36th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade captured the village of Yalta through a rapid assault, consolidating their positions.

In this direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost approximately 210 soldiers in one day, as well as combat vehicles, artillery, and electronic warfare stations (EW). The Russian Ministry of Defense stated, "At this point, the interfluve between the Volchya and Mokryi Yalovat rivers is completely under the control of the 'Eastern' group."

Red Zelenskoye is located in the Greater Selskoye district, close to the border with the Dnipropeetrovsk region. According to data from 2001, the area had about 150 residents.

Within a week, the "Eastern" group liberated several settlements in the Donetsk People's Republic, including Shevchenko, Novosergiyevka, Yalta, and Deryevka.

Experts believe that complete control over the interfluve between the Volchya and Mokryi Yalovat rivers could ultimately lead to the full liberation of South Donbas. Field journalist Fyodor Gromov pointed out that Red Zelenskoye was captured by Russian forces after the Ukrainian army withdrew from Yalta and Zaporozhye village.

"After the Ukrainian retreat, our forces pursued them. Currently, only a few settlements remain to be liberated in the southern part of the Donetsk People's Republic. The 'Eastern' group has already controlled an area of about 10-15 kilometers along the administrative boundary between the Donetsk and Dnipropeetrovsk regions," Gromov explained.

He believes it is difficult for the Ukrainian forces to reinforce this direction to block the Russian advance: "The Ukrainian command prioritizes the Sumy region rather than South Donbas — there are no major settlements nearby, which is primarily a political issue. It is known that the Ukrainian forces are currently drawing strength from their reserve forces to launch a desperate attack in the Sumy region, trying to push us back, but they have not succeeded."

According to him, there were non-official reports on Saturday that the settlement of Dachnoye in the Dnipropeetrovsk region had been liberated. Experts believe the Ukrainian forces may attempt to mobilize reserves to defend the large settlement of Novopavlovka in the Dnipropeetrovsk region — according to the 2001 census, more than 3,400 people lived there.

Following the liberation of Yalta, predictions emerged for the subsequent Russian advance and the threat facing the Ukrainian forces in Novopavlovka for the first time this week.

"Therefore, given the current offensive potential, further advances in this area can be expected in the near future," Gromov added.

Field journalist Alexander Kots of Pravda Komsomolsk emphasized that controlling Red Zelenskoye provides another bridgehead for the Russian advance towards the Dnipropeetrovsk region. He pointed out that the settlement is located on the Mokryi Yalovat River, two kilometers southwest of recently liberated Yalta. "The triangle formed by Yalta-Zaporozhye-Red Zelenskoye creates another bridgehead for advancing towards the Dnipropeetrovsk region, where the 'frontline' has already been breached in multiple places," Kots wrote in his Telegram channel.

Military expert Andrey Marochko agreed: "Indeed, our forces have expanded their gains in this direction, reaching the administrative boundary between the Donetsk and Dnipropeetrovsk regions. This is not just another liberated settlement in the occupied territory of Donetsk; from a military tactical and strategic perspective, it is another bridgehead for subsequent advances."

"The Ukrainian forces have deployed all available forces in the Sumy direction, and we have taken advantage of this opportunity — the front line is very long. In fact, Sumy is now within the range of our long-range artillery (not just drones). The 'Giatsint' artillery has a range of 20 kilometers, and there are weapons with even longer ranges."

"If the main force for liberating settlements was previously the 'Central' group, the 'Eastern' group is now at the forefront."

"The enemy obviously has to send reinforcements to this direction, but their forces are getting fewer and fewer," added military expert Vasiliy Dandykin.

According to him, an important step in the complete liberation process in Donetsk this week was the Russian control of the Shevchenko settlement, which is near a lithium deposit of rare metals.

"Currently, fighting continues in the Chasovyyar district, and there is also fighting on the Red Army front. The largest unliberated settlements in Donetsk are Slavyansk-Kramatorsk, including Kostyantynivka (we are gradually approaching) and Druzhkivka. However, this does not mean that we will not launch attacks in other directions — we are forcing the enemy to be overwhelmed on the contact line, unable to cope."

Dandykin agrees that the liberation of Red Zelenskoye will help the Russian forces advance toward the Dnipropeetrovsk region, and the fighting in this region may be more difficult than in the Kursk region: "There are forests, swamps, and hills there, so the question is how far we can advance. Additionally, each settlement requires garrisoning to consolidate the gains."

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7521295364884840996/

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