The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on April 22 2023

Bakhmut Front Update [22 April 2023]

The Battle for Bakhmut

Prigozhin responded to a question about Zelensky’s demand for the commander of the Khokhlov ground troops, Syrsky, to hold Bakhmut (Artemivsk) until 9 May in order to prevent a big media victory for the Russian Federation.

Eugene Prigozhin’s response:
“Dear Vladimir Aleksandrovich (Zelya) and Alexander Stanislavovich (Syrsky). We are not going to give May 9 gifts to anyone by Bakhmut, we are not superstitious. In Chasovyi Yar and Kostyantynivka, riots have started among the AFU soldiers: they are dropping their weapons, getting up and leaving. Give them a chance to live some more, don’t kill thousands and tens of thousands of Ukrainians with your own hands. 

Ukrainian sources report that, allegedly, it was decided that Zelensky’s rate finally decided to postpone the offensive from spring to at least summer. It is reported that due to the huge losses in Bakhmut. If we take into account that vacations in the Armed Forces of Ukraine were not canceled, we can assume that no one was going to attack in the next month, so all this is most likely information noise.

But, of course, this does not apply to the losses at Bakhmut. They are really, extremely large. But the problem for Kiev is that, leaving Artemovsk, and trying to rest in another place, he will get exactly the same “meat grinder”. Well, or just retreat to Kiev and Lviv. And even the generalship genius of Zaluzhny, who had been calling for leaving Artemovsk almost since January, could not do anything about it, which was very beneficial for him in terms of media.

Meanwhile, at a meeting yesterday, Zelensky demanded that Syrsky keep Bakhmut at least until May 9 inclusive, “in order not to give the Kremlin a big information victory.” The general, in turn, announced that he could perform this task only if he was provided with heavy Western equipment to recapture the route “Chasov of Yar-Bakhmut”, without which Bakhmut would fall in the coming days. Only it is unlikely that they will give him Western equipment, which in reality is very small, and in the near future is no longer expected. And it won’t help.

That is, there will be no less losses. Moreover, as the Times writes, Ukraine may “lose control of the sky” (which it never had) due to a shortage of air defense systems and ammunition for them.  The publication reports that after the Bandera air defense was seriously reduced, the VKS were able to work much more actively on the advanced positions of Bandera, and even the nearest rear, further increasing enemy losses and demoralizing them.

Meanwhile, in the deep rear, a protest movement is gaining relatives of militants who accuse the Nazi regime of abandoning their husbands and sons without training, without the necessary equipment, and almost without weapons, almost to certain death. The protesters have, of course, been declared “agents of the Kremlin” and “supporters of Poroshenko” at the same time, which caused them even more rage.

Ukrainian Post  Bakhmut

Infernal battles continue in the area of the railway, avenue of roses, Khromovoy and Ivanovsky. The enemy has partial success.

I am worried about the enemy’s attempts to take control of the last road to the city in the Khromovo area. They threw everything possible there.

The relief of the area plays into our hands a little. The route is still passable to a certain extent, logistics are working, although extremely complicated.

In the case of cutting the path, it will mean you know what.

But for now, our soldiers heroically hold the defense, preventing the occupiers from taking possession of the road, to which the occupiers got up close.

The orcs really want to have at least partial control over the street. Levanevsky and Defense. This will open a direct way for them to the western quarters, especially to the Novy and Cheremiv microdistricts.

There are mostly nine-story buildings, which will give you enough time to defend yourself.

From the center of the city and the south, the enemy is pressing in the direction of the former tank base. There you can also sit in defense for a sufficient time.

Why will the Defense Forces not move away from Bakhmut? Because it will impair our capabilities in the potential defense of Kostyantynivka and Chasovoy Yar.

I have high hopes that it will not come to that. I believe in ZSU, NSU, TRO, SSO and everyone who defends the Bakhmut direction!

The battles for Bakhmut continue and nothing has been decided yet!

They report a series of powerful arrivals at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Bogdanovka near Artyomovsk

According to the Military Chronicle, there were warehouses and mortar positions of the 28th Mechanized Brigade and the 42nd Territorial Defense Battalion from Kirovograd in this area.

Presumably, the Aerospace Forces aviation worked with FAB-500 high-explosive bombs with universal planning and correction modules

Residents of Bakhmut recounted atrocities committed by the Ukrainian armed forces:

- They barricaded the doors to our basement and threw grenades in. Ukrops did all this. But thanks to Wagner. They came in, freed us, broke down the doors and took us out.

- So, you just won’t go to Ukraine.

-What will we do there?
The Nazis shot people. A pregnant woman gave birth in the basement, and they wanted to shoot her. She barely managed to run away barefoot. They called “waiters” everyone who stayed in the city. And traitors.

Very heavy fighting on and around the supply road at Khromovo at the moment. Unfortunately it has been raining heavily for a few hours. This makes it difficult for either side to carry out attacks. But despite the miserable weather conditions, the fighting rages on almost without a break.
Really brutal battles were described to me.

Bakhmut Night update: The intensity of fighting in the city of Bakhmut has regained momentum and increased. Thousands of grenades fly at UA positions that are heavily fortified.

Around the station, Wagner made progress on Polevaja Street. And clearly has the upper hand here. UA will soon have to withdraw a little further.

In the south there is still a lot of fighting over the area of   the Industrial College. Wagner managed to enter the college from one side. However, UA continues to resist fiercely.

In the north, the large garage cooperative is still being attacked from 3 sides. Wagner continues to make slight progress in this area.

To the NW, Wagner continues to advance south on Tolbuhina Street. The goal is to conquer the entire street. Furthermore, there is still fighting for the post office and the area of     the Olympic school.

As you can see, Wagner is currently fighting for very heavily fortified areas of UA. It may now be a few days before further significant successes occur around these areas. The goal is to conquer these fortified areas. But that is not possible in 1-2 days. UA is putting up strong resistance.

The situation on the flanks is extremely dynamic and difficult. Because of the rain there is a lot of mud everywhere. You hardly make any progress. Only infantry on foot is possible. Based on the current status, I would describe the road near Khromovo as a complete gray area. UA counters very strongly. Then Wagner attacks again and recaptures. Both sides are just throwing everything they can here. Very difficult and intense fights.
Fighting at Ivanivske on the outskirts of the settlement and east of Ivanivske near the supply road.

On #Artyomovsk (#Bakhmut) as of 12 Noon⚡️

🔹Fighting at the Highway west of #Khromovo continued this morning. The AFU is trying with all their might to prevent the further advance of our forces from landings near the highway.
➖ Ours, in turn, strive to gain a foothold in the landings and move further to cross the highway.
➖ The muddy weather makes combat operations difficult for both sides.

🔹#Khromovo itself is under enemy control, as are #Bogdanovka and Orekhovo-Vasilyevka.

📌 The Supply of the AFU grouping is now going along the primer between #Krasnoye and #Khromovo. This road is also being shelled by our artillery.

Boris Rozhin

How General Climate defeated the AFU⚡️

🔹1. In recent Weeks, the leadership of the AFU has been increasingly stating that the success of the AFU in #Artyomovsk (#Bakhmut) was hindered by the climate, or rather Russia’s “use of climatic weapons”. If not, we would have shown everyone there.

🔹2. These Statements are used to justify both the success of the Wagner PMC in #Artyomovsk and the AFU’s failure to counterattack north and south of #Artyomovsk, as well as the AFU’s tough defence in the city itself.

🔹3. It is true that Combat Operations near #Artyomovsk are complicated by the muddy weather, which has an impact on the course of combat operations. But as can be easily guessed, in muddy weather conditions it is more difficult to attack than to defend, because the defender in prepared positions is much less confronted with the problem of moving equipment off asphalt roads and highways than the attacker.

🔹4. Since during the Hostilities at #Artyomovsk the RF Armed Forces and PMC Wagner were constantly advancing, the problem of mudslides had a greater impact on them than on the AFU. Serious problems for the AFU began when our offensive took control of the key asphalt roads to #Artyomovsk, forcing the use of dirt roads and fields to supply the Artyomovsk Group. This was followed by whining about the muddy weather. While the AFU controlled the roads, they did not complain much about the muddy weather.

🔹5. The Counteroffensive at #Artyomovsk was the same story. The need for a counterattack stems from the situation of operational encirclement and loss of control over the asphalted roads. But the muddy weather naturally prevents the advance in the fields. But this is a consequence of the current operational situation, not the cause. The AFU General Staff knew very well that as early as winter and spring there would be heavy thaw in the #Artyomovsk area (a special department of the General Staff deals with weather issues when planning operations), but hoped that through hard defense, our offensive would slow down and our troops would suffer more from it, while the AFU would be able to keep supplies on asphalted roads. They couldn’t. And now they are trying to blame it on the weather.

📌 6. In general, the AFU, in the style of the Germans, is trying to blame the causes of defeat on the climate, not on the actions of our troops, which drove the AFU in #Artyomovsk into a dire situation, which actually exacerbated the logistics and mudslide problems.

Boris Rozhin

Situation in the #Soledar Direction until 18:00 on 22 Apr 2023⚡️

🔹 Fierce Fighting continues in #Bakhmut. Wagner PMC assault squads are pushing through the AFU defence in the city, while Ukrainian formations are trying to counterattack, holding back the onslaught of Russian units.

▪️ The main clashes are currently taking place near the road from #Khromovo to Chasov Yar, where the Wagner squads have managed to entrench themselves on a stretch of road and physically cut off the supply lines.
➖ Russian aviation has destroyed the crossing near #Khromovo, but the enemy is trying to retake the positions with units of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade and 5th Separate Assault Brigade.

🔹 Meanwhile, the AFU expects the fighting near #Bogdanovka and #Grigorovka to intensify. The 153rd Battalion of the AFU’s 117th Territorial Defence Brigade has been deployed to the forward positions.

▪️ Squads of Polish mercenaries are operating in Chasov Yar. In case the defences in #Bakhmut and Chasov Yar are breached,
➖ Ukrainian formations have mined a viaduct in #Konstantinovka.

🔹 To the North, a battalion of an unidentified formation from #Liman has been moved to #Zvanovka. South of #Slavyansk, two battalion-tactical groups of the AFU’s 4th Separate Tank Brigade, numbering normally over 900 men, are concentrated, but the incompleteness of these units is around 30%.

▪️ Units of the 63rd Mechanized Brigade after regaining combat readiness as well as the 15th Battalion of the AFU’s 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade have arrived in #Slavyansk to possibly reinforce the grouping in both the #Liman and #Bakhmut sectors.

Battle for #Avdeyevka – Situation until 15:00 on 22 Apr 2023⚡️

🔹North of #Avdeyevka, servicemen of the 132nd Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade of the RF Armed Forces (formerly 3rd Gorlovka Brigade of the DPR PM) are conducting a positional offensive against positions of the 88th Battalion of the Ukrainian Navy’s 35th Separate Marines Brigade east of #Novokalinovo.

▪️ The Ukrainian Marines recently tried to counterattack in order to recapture the lost territories west of #Novobakhmutovka in the area of the H20 road. The attack was repulsed and the 88th Battalion of the Marines retreated with casualties. Combat losses amounted to 63 soldiers in a few days.

▪️ The Command of the Ukrainian Navy’s 35th Brigade sent two assault groups of the 137th Battalion of the compound to reinforce the positions in #Keramik. In addition, two firing groups of the 801st Ukrainian Navy sabotage detachment have been redeployed to #Novokalinovo.

🔹Southwest of #Avdeyevka, there is fighting northwest of #Vodyanoye. Soldiers of the RF Armed Forces are storming the positions of the 53rd Mechanized Brigade supported by artillery. During the clashes, the forces of the 53rd Brigade retreated from two strongholds.

▪️ Ukrainian commanders moved anti-tank missiles to the area of #Tonenkoye and also deployed an electronic warfare station to counter small copters.

Situation in the #Zaporozhye Direction until 19:00 on 22 Apr 2023⚡️

🔹In #Zaporozhye, a positioning area of the Grom-2 operational and tactical missile system has been deployed. Today (22 Apr 2023) there was an 👉 attempted (https://t.me/sitreports/7560) strike on #Kerch from the vicinity of the administrative centre.

🔹In #Nikopol, the 3rd and 4th detachments of the AFU’s 71st Jager Brigade, redeployed from the #Soledar direction, have arrived. Given the combat experience of the units of the 71st Brigade in #Bakhmut, they are likely to be involved in the forcing of the #Dnieper River and the assault on #Energodar.

🔹The #Gulyaypole Section is being prepared for an offensive. According to intercepts, about 10,000 militants are concentrated at the #Gulyaypole – #Temirovka line. Starlink terminals have been deployed near #Gulyaypole, #Malinovka and #Poltavka.

▪️ In addition, the forces of the AFU’s 1st Tank Brigade of the AFU started to advance from #Prosyana. The self-propelled howitzer division of the 1st Brigade has been deployed near #Temirovka and the reactive division near #Novogrigorovka.

🔹In the #Orekhov Section, formations of the 65th Mechanized Brigade of the AFU and the 15th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard are conducting a forced evacuation of citizens from #Stepnogorsk. Along the way, sappers are mining all civilian infrastructure buildings in the settlement.

On the attempted Strike by the AFU on #Kerch with the Grom-2 Tactical Missile System⚡️

🗓 Today around 08:30 (22 Apr 2023), Ukrainian formations attempted another strike on the Crimean peninsula from the Grom-2 operational and tactical missile system.

The missile was shot down over the waters of the Sea of Azov near #Kerch by RF Armed Forces’ 3rd Squadron anti-aircraft gunners of the 18th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment. There were no fatalities or injuries, the shrapnel fell into the water.

In contrast to two previous attempts of 👉 strikes (https://t.me/sitreports/6909) in #Gvardeyskoye and #Feodosiya from the #Odessa region, the AFU changed its positioning area for the Grom-2 missile launches. This time the launch was conducted from the vicinity of #Zaporozhye and the distance was about 290 km.

Meanwhile, last night Ukrainian formations attempted to hit #Armyansk in the north of the peninsula from the “Alder” multiple rocket launcher system at a distance of about 100 km. All the shells were shot down by air defence crews.

📌 The Intensity of the Shelling remains the same at the moment. However, the relocation of the Grom-2 missile system to #Zaporozhye indicates that the testing of the battery of four complexes at #Tuzla in #Odessa region has been completed and the missiles have been brought into service.

The new positioning area in #Zaporozhye makes it possible to expand the geography of tactical missile use not only in #Crimea and near the Kerch Bridge, but also in the south of #Zaporozhye region and in the DPR. In addition, the redeployment of tactical missiles fully correlates with the preparation of the AFU for an offensive.

Rogov:   “fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporizhia region go over to the side of the Russian Federation.”

In the Zaporozhye region, cases of military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) switching to the side of Russia have become more frequent. This was stated by the chairman of the movement “We are together with Russia” Vladimir Rogov.

“Ukrainian soldiers in Zaporozhye go over to the side of the Russian Federation. They no longer want to fight for Zelensky,” Rogov said.

According to him, such cases have recently become more frequent. A couple of days ago, eight Cossacks from the 110th Territorial Defense Brigade voluntarily surrendered.

He believes that Kyiv, realizing the actions of its fighters, is transferring its other army units to Zaporozhye

Front-line summary (https://t.me/olegtsarov/6081) April 22

Artemovsk (Bakhmut). According to the MOD, the Wagnerites liberated 3 more blocks in the western part of the city. I wonder how many blocks are left.

Fighting continues along the highway west of Khromovo for the Chasov Yar-Khromovo highway. Heavy mud is reported from the field, which complicates the situation for both sides. RFF want to advance on the other side of the track, the AFU are fighting to prevent this from happening. Khromovo itself remains under the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as Bogdanovka and Orekhovo-Vasilyevka. Our advance is underway, but we must understand that in this direction the AFU have collected 80 thousand military men from reserve units and they can significantly affect the situation. Zelensky allegedly demands that Syrsky keep Artemovsk until May 9. In response to this information, Prigozhin said that there were riots in the rear of the Artemovsk group of the AFU: the military threw down their weapons and left.

Near Avdeevka, our troops stormed the enemy’s positions near Nevelskoye. The Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked south of Marinka, advanced a little. In Zaporozhye, personnel and equipment of the AFU are being pulled up to the line of contact. I hope that this is not only recorded, but also determined as targets for aviation and artillery.

Ukrainian drones again flew to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, smashed the windows in the hall of the 4th power unit. The photo from the last visit of the head of the IAEA showed that part of the territory of the nuclear power plant was covered with nets from drones. Apparently, not everything is covered, since the drones have flown. In the morning, an explosive device went off in the Melitopol locomotive depot. In the same depot, where the Armed Forces of Ukraine hit twice. Also, the AFU fired at New Kakhovka.

Today, to the north of Kerch, a Grom-2 SRBM missile was shot down over the sea. Probably flew towards the Crimean bridge. It was launched from the vicinity of Zaporozhye, from a distance of about 290 km. The placement of the Grom-2 OTRK in Zaporozhye is very beneficial for the Armed Forces of Ukraine: from there you can hit both the Crimea, and the bridge, and our rear areas in the Zaporozhye region, and the rear areas in the DPR. With the declared range of Grom-2 up to 500 km, this can become a problem. In addition, the Armed Forces of Ukraine tried to strike at Armyansk in the north of Crimea from the Alder MLRS from a distance of about 100 km. All shells were shot down by air defense crews.

RF Forces struck at a fuel and lubricants warehouse and a refueling point near Konstantinovka, as well as at points of temporary deployment.

At the Ramstein meeting, Ukraine was given a ride with planes and long-range missiles. The US said that tanks were coming, the crews would be trained (according to earlier information, only at the end of May the vehicles were sent from the US, plus at least 10 weeks of training), the planes were not given – they say that they are relying on powerful air defense systems for Ukraine, not on planes.

In addition, Germany, Ukraine and Poland agreed to establish in Poland a Maintenance Center for Leopard-2 tanks transferred to Ukraine. I can just imagine how every tank damaged in Zaporozhye or in the Donbass is dragged to Poland for repairs. They also said that about 25,000 Ukrainian soldiers are now undergoing training in Germany, about 8,000 have already completed it and returned home, the US representative reported. “Home” is, among other things, near Artyomovsk, where our units have already significantly battered these units. Prigozhin believes that those who undergo such training will be technologically educated. Maybe. I also agree that the 230 tanks and 1,500 other armored vehicles transferred are enough power for serious intentions, and the permission to purchase weapons by the NATO purchasing agency will make it possible to borrow weapons. I don’t think there will be much, but this is another additional source.

Russian Defence Ministry Report on the Progress of the Special Military Operation (22 April 2023)⚡️

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
 
◽️ In Kupyansk direction, Army Aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces have inflicted a fire damage on the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) close to Figolevka, Dvurechye (Kharkov region), and Novoselovskoye and Rozovka (Lugansk People’s Republic).

◽️ In addition, actions of two sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the AFU have been thwarted near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People’s Republic).

◽️ Moreover, an ammunition depot of the 67th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU was destroyed close to Staritsa (Kharkov region).

💥 Up to 60 Ukrainian servicemen, 2 armoured fighting vehicles, 2 pick-up trucks, and 1 U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station have been destroyed during the day.
 
◽️ In Krasny Liman direction, the Russian Ground-Attack and Army aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrowers of the Tsentr Group of Forces have hit units of the AFU close to Nevskoye, Chervonopopovka (Lugansk People’s Republic), and Serebryanka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

💥 In addition, actions of 2 sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the AFU have been thwarted near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People’s Republic).

💥 Over 65 Ukrainian troops, 2 armoured fighting vehicles, and 1 D-30 howitzer have been neutralised in this direction during the day.
 
◽️ In Donetsk direction, the assault detachments have liberated three quarters in the west part of the city of Artyomovsk.

◽️ Airborne Troops have been blocking the enemy on the flanks and supporting the assault squads to take control over the city.

◽️ Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery of the Yug Group of Forces have inflicted a fire damage on the units of the AFU close to Bogdanovka and Nikolayevka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

💥 Over the past 24 hours, aircraft flew 6 sorties, and the Group’s artillery carried out 62 firing missions in this area.

💥 Up to 255 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries, 1 infantry fighting vehicle, 6 armoured fighting vehicles, 10 motor vehicles, 1 Grad MLRS vehicle, and 2 D-20 howitzers have been destroyed in this area during the day.

💥 In addition, an ammunition depot of the 95th Air Assault Brigade of the AFU has been hit close to Serebryanka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

💥 An artillery ordnance depot of the AFU has been destroyed near Konstantinovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
 
◽️ In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces has inflicted a fire damage on AFU units close Ugledar, Vremevka (Donetsk People’s Republic), and Belogorye (Zaporozhye region).

◽️ 1 sabotage and reconnaissance group of the AFU has been disabled close to Pavlovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

💥 Up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen, 2 motor vehicles, and 1 D-20 howitzer have been neutralised in these directions during the day.
 
◽️ In Kherson direction, over 25 Ukrainian servicemen, 2 motor vehicles, and 1 D-20 howitzer have been neutralised by fire.
 
💥 Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 97 AFU artillery units at their fire positions, manpower, and military hardware in 136 areas during the day.
 
💥 Air defence forces have intercepted 10 HIMARS and Uragan MLRS projectiles during the day.

◽️ Moreover, 5 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down close to Novokrasnyanka, Golikovo, Rubezhnoye (Lugansk People’s Republic), Removka (Zaporozhye region) and Starovlynovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

Military Expert Boris Rozhin on the #SMO Highlights in #Ukraine as of 17:40 on 22 Sep 2023⚡️

🔹#Bakhmut:

There is no cauldron at the moment. The situation of an operational encirclement persists. The enemy is attempting to push back our troops from the route west of #Khromovo. Our troops, in their turn, repel enemy counterattacks and attempt to pass over the highway.
#Khromovo, #Bogdanovka and #Orekhovo-Vasilyevka are under the control of the AFU.
 The grouping in the city is  supplied via a dirt road and fields between #Khromovo and #Krasnoye. The road through #Krasnoye is shot through.
In the city itself, the Wagner PMCs continue to methodically mop up neighbourhoods, pushing the AFU towards a multistorey building area on the outskirts.
 The AFU are suffering heavy losses in the city and to the west of it, up to 300-400 men a day + a large amount of equipment.

🔹#Avdeyevka:

The main battles were fought to the west and north of #Krasnogorovka.
The enemy is actively shelling the bulge that has formed in order to prevent the RF Armed Forces from accumulating forces here to strike #Orlovka.
There was no change in #Avdeyevka itself.
To the south, the storming of #Pervomayskoye continued, as well as fighting for the fortifications near #Nevelskoye and north of #Vodyanoye in the direction of #Tonenkoye, which covers #Orlovka from the south. There is no operational encirclement, the enemy is quite free to bring reinforcements and ammunition to #Avdeyevka.

🔹#Seversk:

Fighting continues near #Vasyukovka, #Razdolovka, #Veseloye, #Spornoye and #Belogorovka.
#Spornoye is still in the hands of the AFU, although a number of positions near the settlement have been abandoned. The enemy also continues to amass forces on the #Seversk ledge, with a certain potential for counterattack action.

🔹#Maryinka:

Positional fighting continued in the western part of the town. The enemy notes increased pressure in the town and in the north, where the RF Armed Forces deployed fresh units. The nature of hostilities did not change fundamentally.

🔹#Ugledar:

The fighting near #Ugledar and #Novomikhaylovka is of a positional nature.
Occasional local shifts in favor of one of the sides do not fundamentally change the general course of events. Artillery is seriously limiting the offensive actions of both sides.
There are also no changes at #Novomikhaylovka and #Pobeda.

🔹#Kupyansk:

The fighting is of a positional nature.
#Dvurechnaya and #Sinkovka are still under AFU control. After our hasty advance on the eastern bank of the river, events here have slowed down again.
The enemy strengthened the front and #Kupyansk itself in case the RF Armed Forces break through #Sinkovka.

🔹#Svatovo:

Fighting continued on the outskirts of #Makeyevka, towards #Nevskoye and near #Kuzemovka.
The enemy periodically attempted to advance towards #Chervonopopovka.
In the forests near #Kremennaya, our troops are conducting assault actions, pushing through a network of AFU strongholds.

🔹#Zaporozhye:

There are no serious changes on the frontline.
Some aggravation near #Marfopol did not lead to any serious movements. The main positions remain where they were before.
The AFU continues to shell #Pologi, #Tokmak, #Vasilyevka, as well as the #Zaporozhye NPP area.
The RF Armed Forces continue to shell #Zaporozhye, #Orekhov, #Kamenskoye and #Gulyaypole.

🔹#Kherson:

The enemy continues to be active near Bolshoy Potemkin and #Alyoshki, sending in SRGs by boat and regularly marking their presence on the shore. The reaction of the RF Armed Forces to amphibious assaults is being probed. The accumulation of various crossing facilities on the #Dnieper River continues in case of a scenario of stalling actions with crossing the #Dnieper simultaneously with a potential strike in the #Zaporozhye direction.
The RF Armed Forces continue to process AF positions in #Kherson, #Chernovbayevka, #Berislav and other points on the Right Bank.

Boris Rozhin for Voenkor Kotenok Z 

Special Operation, 22 Apr 2023, Main; pub. 00:05⚡️

▪️ Russian aviation has destroyed a weapons depot in the Aleksander-Kalininsky direction, the enemy has been deprived of up to 600 shells of MLRS, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) told RIA Novosti;

▪️ Stormtroopers have liberated three more quarters in the western part of #Artyomovsk, MoD said;

▪️ According to MoD, up to 255 Ukrainian militants and mercenaries have been destroyed in the #Donetsk direction; more than 25 militants, 2 vehicles and a D-20 howitzer in the #Kherson direction; up to 20 militants and 3 vehicles in the South Donetsk and #Zaporozhye directions; about 125 militants in the #Kupyansk and Krasny #Liman directions;

▪️ #Ukraine had hoped to launch an offensive in April but postponed it indefinitely due to a weapons shortage, Foreign Policy wrote, citing a Ukrainian MP;

▪️ #Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister and former ambassador to #Germany Melnyk said Kiev needs a tenfold increase in military aid and urged partners to cross all “red lines”;

▪️ #Brazil’s president said he would not travel to #Russia and #Ukraine until conditions and a climate conducive to ending the conflict are created, the G1 portal has reported. He will send his adviser to #Ukraine to meet with Zelensky, however, according to media reports.

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