Fierce battlefield in Ukraine, mercenaries flee

Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that the leader of the Donetsk region, Igor Kimakovsky, according to information from the battlefield, announced that the number of foreign mercenaries fighting in the region has decreased significantly in recent times.

“This is due to the danger they face on the front line,” said Igor Kimakovsky, confirming that many Ukrainian mercenary units want to be on the second and third lines instead of on the front line as at the beginning of the war.

Russian military radio reconnaissance units on the front line have intercepted communications in English, French, Spanish, German, Polish, Georgian and Baltic languages. They are most likely from mercenary groups assisting the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

Previously, French media reported that a direct conflict with Russia could occur if the AFU fails and the front line breaks down.

High risks and significant losses have made foreign mercenaries no longer interested in the Ukrainian battlefield. Photo: AP

Regarding the combat situation, despite the AFU's counterattack efforts, Russian airborne units and the Southern Task Force penetrated the Ukrainian defenses, approaching Chasov Yar from two directions.

The Russian army continues to advance from Bakhmut after defeating and controlling two important checkpoints Ivanovska and Bogdanovka to approach the city of Chasov Yar. The 98th Airborne Division Ivanovo has basically been able to attack the Ukrainian forces entrenched in Chasov Yar with firepower.

Many international military experts acknowledged the dangerous situation of AFU in the face of the continuous advance of the Russian side: "The Russians have achieved significant success in advancing to Chasov Yar. They have controlled a number of large strongholds. The Russian attack is only about 500m away from the outskirts of the city."

"East of Chasov Yar, Russian troops are advancing along the railway line and a section of the O0506 highway in an area up to 1.85 km wide and 1.15 km deep. Fighting continues in the suburbs. In Ivanovska and the surrounding area, things are very complicated, many Ukrainian units have lost contact," the Rybar Telegram channel monitoring the Ukrainian war posted.

At the same time, as the fortified positions north of Bogdanovka village were no longer of tactical value, Ukrainian soldiers withdrew from the front and retreated to the rear. Russian troops have now entered this important village and are slowly and carefully taking control of this position.

The situation around Ugledar is similar. The siege around this Ukrainian fortress city is tightening, as Russian troops are gradually advancing on Novomikhailovka. If Ugledar falls, the AFU’s most solid defense line in southeastern Donetsk will officially collapse, opening the way for Russia to advance on the last strongholds of the Donetsk region still held by Ukraine.

In Zaporozhye, despite no concrete advances, the Russian Army has created an open “cooker” at Robotine. All Ukrainian attempts to resupply and rotate troops to this position have been met with heavy fire. In the direction of Verbovoe, Russia has pushed Ukrainian entrenched positions into the gray zone, outside the first line of dragon teeth.

Another important issue is that Russia's heavy airstrikes on Ukraine's infrastructure have caused widespread damage to Ukraine's power grid.

Ukraine's power grid is being systematically destroyed, leaving the country without electricity next summer. Photo: Getty

The general director of Ukraine's Yasno Electric Company, Sergey Kovalenko, announced that the country could face power shortages in the coming months, as the country's key power plants were destroyed or damaged by attacks.

“A number of thermal and hydroelectric power plants have been affected. In addition, the Russians have attacked Ukrenergo’s power transmission infrastructure,” said Sergey Kovalenko.

Russian missile attacks have weakened the transmission capacity of Ukraine's energy circuit and significantly reduced the country's electricity production. Severe power shortages in Ukraine will occur in the summer of 2024.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/chien-su-nga-ukraine-hom-nay-ngay-2732024-chien-truong-ukraine-khoc-liet-linh-danh-thue-bo-chay-311171.html