Over the past 5 days, since my last EVALUATION view of this sector of the front, there have been, at first glance, minor changes in terms of cutting the territory control map. But this is only at first glance, since, for example, the enemy in the person of the 3rd mechanized battalion of the 92nd separate mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to advance directly to the Berkhovsky reservoir. And if yesterday and the day before yesterday our troops formed a line of defense along the border of Berkhovka, today, due to shootings, according to some information, our troops had to withdraw from the western outskirts of the settlement into its depths.
And if a week ago I thought that the enemy wanted to take Dubovo-Vasilyevka and the heights adjacent to it, in order to later create a situation where Berkhovka would be practically forced to be abandoned by us, today, having considered the direction of the enemy’s advance, I believe that he, creating an onslaught to the north and northwest of Dubovo-Vasilyevka, apparently, he decided to implement the plan not by directly taking the heights of Dubovo-Vasilyevka, where he would have suffered more losses with a dubious result, but by taking Berkhovka and entering the Bakhmut-Slavyansk highway. When implementing the plan of which (if there is one), there is a threat to the semi-encirclement of the personnel located to the west of the above route and to our forces holding Dubovo-Vasilevka. For this reason, it may be necessary to retreat to more advantageous lines to the east.
On the left flank of Bakhmut, there are changes in the control of territories west of Kleshcheevka, the defense of which is held by our troops from the 4th separate motorized rifle brigade, Storm-Z detachments, as well as a pair of tank and artillery regiments of the Russian Armed Forces. The enemy is advancing in the area with the forces of the 1st assault and 1st mechanized battalion of the 3rd separate assault brigade "Azov", as well as the forces of the 24th separate assault brigade "Aidar" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Over the past 5 days, the enemy managed to cut off the territorial ledge, which was held mainly by Storm-Z detachments. It may have been held by the fighters of the 4th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, but judging by the prisoners and trophies of the enemy, which is based on old weapons, Storm-Z received more than the rest from the enemy. Now the defense of Kleshcheevka is built a little to the west of its outskirts, and fortunately, it is at least covered by a fairly wide and dense forest plantation.
I also want to highlight the following points, which are also noted in personal communication with fighters on the ground, but are ignored by the high command:
Namely, in order to slow down the advance and prevent further surrender of territories, the personnel of the Russian Armed Forces on Bakhmut VERY STRONGLY asks for the destruction of bridges:
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bridge near the village Dyleevka across the Balmutka River – 48.466021° N 37.879093° E (7417222 Y 5370955 X)
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bridge near the village Belaya Gora across the Balmutka River – 48.486528° N 37.849861° E (7415095 Y 5373267 X)
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bridge near the village Aleksandro-Shultino across the Naumikha River – 48.484177° N 37.825280° E (7413273 Y 5373033 X)
These bridges must be destroyed as a matter of urgency, at least to reduce maneuverability and in order to disrupt the organized advance of enemy armored columns to the line of contact, which will significantly reduce the pace of advance on this sector of the front.
If this is not done, then there is a serious threat to the defense of Kurdyumovka and Kleshcheevka, the surrender of which will lead to a possible retreat of our forces up to Kodema and create a critical threat to holding Bakhmut.
I also want to highlight the following points, which are also noted in personal communication with fighters on the ground, but are ignored by the high command:
bridge near the village Dyleevka across the Balmutka River – 48.466021° N 37.879093° E (7417222 Y 5370955 X)