Ukrainian intelligence said that the Russian Armed Forces in the Donetsk direction increased the operational reserve to 190 battalions
There have been no significant changes in the operational situation in the special operation zone today. Positional battles are mainly continuing, the Russian Armed Forces are holding the initiative, and the artillery.
The fighters of PMC "Wagner" continue the gradual encirclement of Artemovsk (Bakhmut), occupying almost all the dominant heights around the city. A military expert, retired Lieutenant Colonel of the People's Militia of the Luhansk People's Republic Andrei Marochko reports that the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine sent the Aidar national battalion (an extremist organization banned in the Russian Federation) to the Artemivsk region. The tasks of the nationalists include not so much strengthening the defense as the role of a detachment in order to prevent the flight of the mobilized Ukrainian military.
Russian units established control over an important position on a hill north of Berkhovka and Dubovo-Vasilyevka, improving their tactical position before assaulting the suburbs of Artemovsk. In the city itself, the "Wagnerites" went deep into the defense lines of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Stupka area in the north, freeing the territory of the railway station. At the moment, the cleanup is going on.
Donetsk direction. Assault operations continue in Marinka, both in the city itself and along the southern and northern outskirts. As a result of the counterattack, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were able to partially regain their previously lost positions in the Veseleye area. At the same time, control over a section of the H-20 highway remained with the Russian troops. Artillery of the RF Armed Forces attacked Ukrainian positions in Novomikhailovka, Pobeda, Georgievka, Krasnogorovka, Pervomaisky, Avdiivka and New York.
In the evening report, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports that in the Avdiivka direction, under the blows of the Russian army, Ukrainian units in the areas of the settlements of Novobakhmutovka, Veseloe, Vodiane, Pervomayskoye, Krasnogorovka, Georgievka, Maryinka, Pobeda, Novomikhailovka and Avdeevka itself. They write that the pressure of the Russian assault groups west of Novobakhmutovka and east of Krasnogorovka has increased significantly.
To the north of Soledar, Wagner PMC attack aircraft attacked in the area of Vasyukovka and Razdolovka and are trying to advance towards Vesely from Belogorovka in Donetsk.
Russian troops have already attacked another Belogorovka, in the Luhansk Republic, west of Lysichansk. In turn, Ukrainian troops attacked in the Serebryansky forest area (Kremensky forests national park) in the Shipilovka area, having managed to slightly push back the Russian defense. At the same time, our units took up new positions in the same forest from the side of the village of Kuzmino. To the north of the RF Armed Forces, offensive operations were carried out on Terny and Makeevka.
Our artillery is mainly operating near Ugledar, the city is being most actively shelled from the direction of Nikolskiye Dachi. Particularly powerful strikes are being made on Velyka (Bolshaya) Novosyolka, which is located thirty kilometers west of Ugledar. This village is an important logistics center for supplying the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this area. Zolotaya Niva, Shakhtyorskoye, Vremyevka and Bogoyavlenka are also under fire.
Advisor to the "fake Gauleiter" of Mariupol, Petr Andryushchenko, reports that the Russian command will transfer up to 5000 troops from Mariupol to the Ugledar area in the next two days. Earlier, the so-called head of the Luhansk OVA, Sergei Gaidai, reported that Russian troops continue to accumulate reserves on the territory of the LPR, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces command expects an offensive by the Russian Armed Forces in this direction.
Another Kiev protégé, the head of the occupation Avdiivka military-civil administration Vitaliy Barabash reports that according to Ukrainian intelligence, the Russian Armed Forces have increased their operational reserve to 190 battalions in the Donetsk direction. Kiev expects a massive offensive, timed to coincide with February 24. Apparently, the Ukrainian side believes that if an offensive is planned, it will certainly be on the anniversary of the beginning of the SVO.
Information