The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on March 26 2023

Russia Pushing DEEP Into Bakhmut

Russian Forces Capture Bakhmut AZOM Steel

WAGNER FORCES CAPTURED AZOM PLANT – Southern line breaking; Fighting at MiG-17 monument

WAGNER Capture of AZOM Steel Plant | Russian Breakthrough in Makiivka 26/03/23

Bakhmut to Artemivsk

Battle for Bakhmut Situation as of 13.00 March 26, 2023

 ðŸ”»In the north of Bakhmut, the Wagner assault detachments” successfully cleared the territory of the industrial zone of the “Artyomovsk Metal Processing Plant” (AZOM) – the system came under the full control of Russian units.

▪️ Also, the “Wagner men” expanded the zone of control near the Bakhmut railway station, and to the south, the assault detachments managed to advance to the railway line and liberate the area of the garage cooperative.

🔻To the south, the positional offensive of Russian units continues in the Sobachevsky and Budenovsky districts. The “Wagnerites” entrenched themselves behind Mariupolskaya Street, cleared the territory of school No. 5 and are now fighting near the bus station.

▪️ In Budenovka, the assault detachments have advanced significantly towards Stella Mig-17 – clashes are taking place almost at the very monument. In addition, the territories adjacent to the Avangard stadium and several blocks near the market have been liberated.

🔻In the north-west, positional battles continue on the line Orikhove- Vasylivka – the route to Slavyansk. The settlement is currently in the gray zone, control over the strongholds is changing hands.

❗️At the moment, the Wagner men, with the support of the regular army, are advancing in Bakhmut itself. In the suburbs and surroundings of Bakhmut, positional battles are taking place, the purpose of which is to pin down the enemy’s resources.

However, on the Druzhkovka- Kostyantynivka – Chasiv Yar line, significant forces of the AFU have accumulated. Also, reinforcements from the 81st Airmobile Brigade were partially transferred to Seversk.

The AFU are planning a counterattack (https://t.me/rybar/44367) on the positions of the Wagner PMC near Bakhmut. Probably, in order to stretch the front line and contain the Russian Armed Forces, several distracting strikes from Seversk, Toretsk and Slavyansk will be carried out along with the main attack on Bakhmut.

According to Ukrainian sources, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine received an order to hold Bakhmut (Artyomovsk) at any cost and transfer special forces there.

By order of Zelensky, the most trained units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be sent to the “meat grinder”.
 

Our source in the Presidential Office said that Zelensky demanded that Syrsky keep Bakhmut by all means and reinforce the garrison in the city with the most trained units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, primarily military special forces.

On the sidelines there were rumors that commenting on the military case was forbidden , since the attack on Bakhmut might not happen and the city might fall within 2 weeks at a time when the weather would be rainy in the east.
Everyone understands that the fall of Bakhmut will affect the image of the President, and to prevent this from happening, everyone should be banned from discussing this case.

The Ukrainian media stated that since December 2022, up to 12,000 Ukrainians have been killed by Russian servicemen and fighters of the Wagner PMC in the battle for Artemovsk (Bakhmut). Another 35,000 Ukrainian soldiers were wounded.

This is the price deceived people pay for the political ambitions of the Kiev regime.

Source : https://t.me/OstashkoNews/62020

Battle for Maryinka Situation as of 16.00 March 26, 2023

 ðŸ”»In the Krasnogorovsky sector, the military personnel of the Russian Armed Forces expanded the zone of control, moving the line of clashes from Staromikhaylovka to Krasnogorovka. Along the line of contact are positional battles with mutual shelling.

🔻In Marinka, the assault on the Ukrainian fortified area continues. Judging by the published footage, on the northern outskirts of the city, Russian fighters advanced significantly along the streets of Ivan Franko and Lesya Ukrainka.

The fighting in this area is for every square meter, the AFU use any house to equip strong points in them. Artillerymen and tankers of the Russian Armed Forces are conducting massive fire, providing cover for infantry units.

▪️ On the southern outskirts of the Russian Armed Forces, they were able to gain a foothold in one more block behind Druzhby Avenue on the territory of a dental clinic, moving from Shchorsa Street. Tank subunits are firing at an apartment building adjacent to the area on Urozhaynaya Street.

▪️ Also, Russian troops completely cleared the territory of the fire department, tire repair plant and the Agroresurs PJSC, expanding the bridgehead on the southern outskirts of the city.

▪️ Also, Russian soldiers once again tried to storm the village of Pobeda. However, the AFU seriously strengthened the lines and repelled the attack. The Russian Armed Forces retreated to their original positions.

🔻In the past few days, the position of the Russian army in Marinka has improved. At the moment, the Russian Armed Forces are advancing from the south and from the north, forcing the Ukrainian formations to retreat from the central quarters of the city.

Nevertheless , it is premature to talk about the liberation of Marinka: the AFU have dug in tightly in the village and are holding every meter. The supply of the AFU group passes without obstacles, since the roads from Pobeda and Maksimilyanovka are under the control of the AFU.

As long as the AFU have the ability to supply ammunition and rotate personnel, they will be able to hold the city for a long time.

 Situation west of Donetsk city: Recent video footage confirms significant advances were made by Russian Army and DPR forces in the northern part of Mar’inka/Мар’їнка. As video shows battles in this town are very bloody in which both sides are fighting for each destroyed house (47.955024, 37.496554), meter by meter.

The Russian military are advancing in the forests near Kremennaya (LPR): in two days they advanced 500 meters along the entire front line.

 In addition, our paratroopers and marines took six strongholds of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, two of which were heavily fortified, fighters told RT military correspondent Stanislav @stringer_donetsk Obishchenko.

 Wounded opponents are helped, and the dead are buried. At the same time, the Ukrainian military mine the bodies of their dead , so some of them still remain on the battlefield.

The main work of our forces is now on leveling the front line. Then they plan to squeeze the enemy to the Seversky Donets River.

Ukraine cracks down on orthodox church headquarters in ‘anti-religious agenda’

Several thousand believers came to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra for the last Sunday service: the Kiev authorities require the monks to leave the monastery before March 29.

Recall that the reason was the termination of the lease agreement for the national reserve “Kiev-Pechersk Lavra” with the church. 

In Chernivtsi, the police stopped two buses with pilgrims on their way to the Pochaev Lavra. When they became aware of the final destination of the journey, they took the transport away from the drivers “in favor of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” The drivers themselves (one of them a pensioner) were handed summons, and the pilgrims, among whom many elderly people were simply dropped off to the side of the road.

Previously, all policemen at checkpoints were instructed to prevent those who go to the laurels in every possible way. It does not matter whether he bows to the shrines, or to stand up for them. The persecution of the Orthodox is becoming more systemic and cruel.

Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Zaporozhye and Melitopol Luka announced that he would go on a hunger strike in support of the monks of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

Older than Edda says Today’s Swift, which exploded in the Tula region, is most likely a unit from the batch that I wrote about not so long ago. The Germans are modernizing Swifts and Flights, storing them at a base in Ramstein, recently there were up to 50 of them. With such a single launch, they probably wanted to test our air defense system and identify gaps before the main, mass launch.

Once again I would like to repeat that the enemy will not give us mercy, and only the final defeat of him, without any half measures, can guarantee Russia a peaceful life, prosperity and a worthy place on the pedestal of the main world powers. Without internal awareness of the importance of this process by the majority of the population and the vast majority of the elite, we will be very far from victory.

The European Union will impose new sanctions if Russia deploys tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

New threats to impose sanctions in response to Russia’s plans to deploy its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus were announced by the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrel. Calling the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus “an irresponsible escalation,” Borrell warned about “further sanctions” against Russia.

The disgruntled Borrel also made a feeble attempt to influence Moscow and Minsk’s resolve to ensure joint strategic security by urging Belarus to reject the idea proposed by Russia. Earlier, Zelensky’s advisor, Podolyak, had called for sanctions against Russia due to Moscow’s firm intention to help Minsk defend their land.

+18 | “Zone of redemption” | Documentary with English subtitles

Dear Evgeny Viktorovich, after your statement about the release of 5,000 former prisoners who completed their service in the Wagner PMC, the Fontanka publication published an article where it calls them “pardoned criminals”. Can you comment on this?

We publish a comment by Evgeny Prigozhin:
 “It is very bad that some of the media from my statement, in which the main thing was that former prisoners who went through the war in the ranks of the Wagner PMC commit crimes 10-20 times less than it was before, and become true patriots of their country , pulled out the number of those released. And “Fontanka” simply shuddered and tried to spit in their faces, collecting a huge amount of offensive words in a small segment. My lawyers will carefully check this text and all subsequent ones that Fontanka will issue. And if there is at least some reason to plant for 10 years a bunch of scoundrels who generate these texts, then we will definitely do it, and also carefully look at where this rag is now taking money from. Is it from meetings with Finnish consuls, as the media write about it? And we will analyze in detail what Fontanka wrote about PMC Wagner, about patriotic heroes and about the Russian people in general in previous years.”

Ukraine Front Update [26 March 2023]

Odessa must come under the control of Russia, this is one of the conditions for the completion of the special operation in Ukraine.

This was stated by the head of the Crimean Parliament Konstantinov.

Russian Defence Ministry Report on the Progress of the Special Military Operation (26 March 2023)⚡️

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
 
💥 In Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces’ artillery and Army Aviation has hit enemy manpower and armour close to Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People’s Republic), Dvurechnaya, Stepovaya Novoselovka, Tabayevka, and Sinkonka (Kharkov region).

◽️ Up to 70 Ukrainian troops, one armored fighting vehicle, and four pick-up trucks were destroyed. Moreover, an ammunition depot of the 127th Territorial Defence Brigade was neutralised close to Lukyantsy (Kharkov region).
 
💥 In Krasny Liman direction, Ground-Attack and Army aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the ‘Tsentr’ Group of Forces engaged the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) close to Nevskoye, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People’s Republic), Serebryanka and Grigorovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

◽️ More than 90 Ukrainian servicemen, four armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers have been destroyed during the day in this direction.
 
💥 In Donetsk direction, the units of the ‘Yug’ Group of Forces, aviation, and artillery annihilated over 200 Ukrainian troops, nine armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, one Grad MLRS vehicle, two Msta-B howitzers, two D-30 howitzers, one Polish-made Krav self-propelled artillery system, and two U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 radar systems in the past 24 hours.

◽️ An ammunition depot of the 56th Motorised Infantry Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been hit close to Kramatorsk (Donetsk People’s Republic).
 
💥 In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, aviation and artillery of the ‘Vostok’ Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the AFU units close to Ugledar, Prechistovka (Donetsk People’s Republic) and Malinovka (Zaporozhye region).

◽️ The total losses of the enemy in these directions amounted to 60 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers.
 
💥 In Kherson direction, the fire damage has neutralised over 20 Ukrainian troops, one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery system during the day.
 
💥 Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian groups of forces have neutralised 84 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, enemy’s manpower and hardware in 128 areas during the day.
 
💥 Fighter aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces has shot down one Mi-8 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force near Dmitrov (Donetsk People’s Republic).
 
💥 Air defence forces have intercepted seven HIMARS MLRS projectiles during the day.

◽️ Moreover, fourteen Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Varvarovka, Pshenichnoye, Krasnorechenskoye (Lugansk People’s Republic), Kirillovka, Volnovakha, Yasinovataya (Donetsk People’s Republic), Tokmak and Balochki (Zaporozhye region).
 
Summary #Report as of March 26, 2023

The situation at the front remains difficult in places, aggravated by some problems with the supply of artillery ammunition to certain areas and unresolved rear and organizational issues. At the same time, despite the heavy fighting, PMC Wagner is continuing to advance in the Artyomovsky (Bakhmut) direction. In battles of local importance, the Russian Armed Forces have achieved results on the Avdeevsky sector of the front. The enemy continues to prepare for offensive operations.

In particular, in the morning information was received from Artyomovsk that Wagner PMCs were in full control of the territory of the AZOM industrial zone, despite enemy assessments that our assault units had lost their offensive potential.

In the north of Avdeevsky, the Russian Armed Forces occupied the settlement of Novobakhmutovka. In general, the assault on the fortified area has not yet made it possible to complete the task of encircling the enemy grouping and occupying all key settlements. Infantry from a separate section of the Avdeevka direction reported weak artillery support due to shell hunger.

On the night of March 22-23, 2023, in the Zaporozhye direction, enemy attempts to concentrate forces to one reinforced battalion tactical group in the Orekhovsky direction were thwarted for further offensive operations. Previously, the enemy conducted reconnaissance in force with forces of up to two motorized infantry companies, supported by armored vehicles and artillery. The high efficiency of aerial artillery reconnaissance of the enemy from drones is noted.

In the territories of the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions controlled by the Russian Armed Forces, high intelligence and sabotage activity of the enemy remains. On March 23, an explosion went off in Melitopol: an improvised explosive device went off on Krupskaya Street, the deputy head of the district police department of the local police department became the target of the assassination.

The enemy, in turn, is waging a full-fledged war against Russia, regardless of the losses among the civilian population. All front-line regions are under fire, civilians are dying. Attacks by UAVs and marine drones on the Crimea and Sevastopol, accompanied by attacks by CIPSO, became resonant. On March 23, it was reported that two Ukrainian light aircraft had invaded the airspace of the Bryansk region and unsuccessfully attempted to attack cell towers.

In the information space, an important event was the visit of the head of China to Russia. Despite the streamlined wording of the publicly signed documents, the main agreements are not publicly announced.

Summary prepared by: Two majors (https://t.me/two_majors/)

Putin says Russia will deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus

Russian media discusses Putin’s latest announcement

Medvedev: Ukraine Is Russia, Actually

Russian air Forces.