Ukrainian soldiers fight in Bakhmut (Photo: Reuters).
Speaking to Interfax-Ukraine , General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that Russian commanders in Bakhmut are using a special "weapon" that can help them grasp the coordinates of Kiev's targets on the battlefield.
It is a smartphone with special software called Alpine Quest GPS installed. "Commanders of the Russian forces use smartphones with special software, Alpine Quest GPS, to obtain coordinates of the location of Ukrainian fire equipment, attack targets, routes of approach to the target as well as the tasks of neighboring units," said Mr. Syrskyi.
According to him, thanks to this software, Russia can flexibly deploy tanks and artillery, inflict fire damage on the Ukrainian army, destroy targets to pave the way for Moscow's forces to move forward.
During the offensive, Russia uses drones and software to adjust target coordinates to help artillery fire, allowing Russian commanders to effectively mobilize personnel in all directions, Syrskyi said.
According to the Ukrainian general, in urban combat conditions in Bakhmut, Russia often uses long-range firepower to attack the enemy.
The battle for Bakhmut became one of the fiercest battles of the 14-month war and the city was almost completely destroyed by shelling and urban fighting.
Russia has said that if it takes Bakhmut, it will push deeper into eastern Ukraine, apparently targeting the cities of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk. Ukraine, meanwhile, is determined to hold on to the city, saying the battle for Bakhmut is costing Russia its best troops. According to reports from the battlefield, both sides are suffering heavy losses.
Earlier, an official from the separatist Donetsk region said that Russia had taken control of 90% of Bakhmut and was encircling Ukrainian combat units in the direction of Chasov Yar.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian commanders on the front line say Russian regular forces and members of the Wagner private military group are conducting relentless attacks on the city of Bakhmut.
Yurii Fedorenko, commander of a company in Ukraine's 92nd Mechanized Brigade, said the situation there "remains extremely tense" as the two sides fight for every inch of land.
"The fighting is extremely difficult. The enemy is using all available attack potential, both in terms of equipment and manpower," Mr. Fedorenko informed.
In a related development, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov said on April 25 that Moscow was actively attacking Ukrainian targets west of Bakhmut, while Russian paratroopers and fighters were blocking Kiev's efforts to deploy reserve forces to the city.
"In the Donetsk direction, the strike force is active west of Artyomovsk (Ukraine calls it Bakhmut). Russian airborne forces, operational/tactical forces and aviation are providing direct support to the efforts to take control of the city and prevent the enemy from bringing in reserves," he said.
According to Russian officials, Russian artillery has attacked Ukrainian military units near the settlements of Bogdanovka, Krasnoye and Stupochki in Donetsk over the past day.
Source
Comment (0)