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The Russian military has recently declared some success in the town of Maryinka located on the western outskirts of the Donetsk city agglomeration.
On December 20, the acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic claimed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are being pushed to the western outskirts of the town by the Russian Army. The western part of Maryinka was almost destroyed during the prolonged battles in the town, thus the defense of Ukrainian military positions there will be almost impossible.
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The main stronghold of the AFU was reportedly located in the center of Maryinka. On December 19, the DPR officials declared that the mop up operation in the central part of the town was completed. Earlier, it was confirmed that Russian forces had cut off the road leading from Maryinka to Krasnogorovka. Another road leading to the town nearby is heavily shelled by Russian artillery. The road leading to Maryinka from the southern direction in already under control of the Russian military.
Thus, the Ukrainian military risks to lose its control of the settlement in the near future.
Russian military share footage from the area:
Russian military reporters deployed with the advancing Russian troops near Maryinka confirm that Ukrainian forces were pushed to the western part of the town. According to their reports, the major offensive operation took place in the area on December 19.
So far, the heavy battle for Maryinka continues. At the same time, Russian forces continue offensive operations in Krasnogorovka located to the north of the town and in Pobeda located to the south of the Maryinka. The military operations there are of tactical importance and they are likely aimed at distraction of the Ukrainian military from the main battlefield in Maryinka.
In their turn, the AFU attempt to counterattack. For example another their attempt to counterattack near the village of Pobeda reportedly failed on December 18th.
The Ukrainian military is reinforcing the garrison in Maryinka with forces redeployed from the Kherson region.
However, the Russian military continue their advance. Amid the fierce artillery duels, Russian servicemen are destroying Ukrainian strongholds in Maryinka and in the fields on its outskirts.
Ukrainian positions in the area of Maryinka have been heavily fortified during the years of the so-called Anti-Terrorist Operation of the Kiev regime against the population of the Donbass. Ukrainian Nazis have been shelling civilians in Donetsk from their stronghold there.
The final liberation of Maryinka in the DPR will alow Russian forces to pincer the AFU grouping on the western outskirts of the Donetsk agglomeration. In the case of the success of the Russian mop up operation in Maryinka and Krasnogorovka, Russian forces are expected to advance along the road to the west towards Kurahovo where a strategically important railway junction is located.
