Click to see full-size image
Another Ukrainian counter offensive ended in Russian victory. After several months of bloody attacks, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) advanced in the fields on the flanks of Bakhmut but stopped near the first Russian strongholds in the villages of Klescheevka, Avdeevka and Berhovka. After the Ukrainian troops suffered heavy losses in attacks, their advance stopped and led to Russian counterattacks. Russian forces are already in control of the northern part of Klescheevka in the south and they took back control of the area around the Berkhovka water reservoir.
On November 29, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that the Russian army took control of the village of Khromovo (Artyomovskoe) located on the western outskirts of Bakhmut (Artyomovsk). The AFU were always in control of the village and it is the first village in the region which came under the Russian control since the liberation of Artyomovsk. According to the reports from the front, Russians are also in control of the forest areas near the village.
In its turn, the Ukrainian military acknowledged the loss of part of Khromovo, but claims that he is allegedly still present on the outskirts.
Russian paratroopers captured the AFU stronghold north of Artemovsk:
Meanwhile, Russian forces are also advancing on the northern flank near Bogdanovka and came close to the outskirts of the town. The further Russian advance along the road from Khromovo will soon cut an important road used for military supplies in Bogdanovka. The village risk to be surrounded in the nearest future.
Khromovo is also located near the town of Krasnoye (Ivanovskoye). Krasnoye is an important stronghold of the AFU, from where they are shelling Bakhmut as well as Russian positions near Kleshcheyevka. Russian reports from the front claim that the intensity of Ukrainian shelling has already decreased slightly. Probably, some Ukrainian forces began retreating from Krasnoye.
The liberation of Khromovo is an important victory of the Russian military. It marks the decisive offensive of Russian forces in the Bakhmut region. Ukrainian defense by units exhausted by prolonged fighting risk collapsing. Strategic reserves of the AFU were sent to the Avdeevka front, where the AFU are also retreating. The dreams of the Kiev regime to take back control of Bakhmut are ruined. The battle for Chasov Yar, a strategically important Ukrainian stronghold, is coming. The control of the town paves the way to Konstantinovka, to Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, last cities in the Donbass that are currently under Kiev’s control.
