The DPR army breaks through to the south to the important railway junction – Volnovakha according to Ria Novosti.
From there, a direct road opens to Mariupol, a strategically important port city on the Sea of Azov.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the troops advanced more than ten kilometers and “liberated” several settlements.
A full-scale combined-arms offensive in the steppes of Donbass is an extremely difficult task. In 1941, the well-trained and equipped German Army Group “South” encountered an unexpected obstacle – the viscous and sticky Donetsk black soil.
The infantry could not pass through it, and tanks constantly ran into dense minefields.
The importance of transport arteries crossing the Donbass was understood both then and now.
“The enemy was kicked out this morning. When they realized that they were surrounded, they tried to break through to the south to their own, with the support of armored vehicles. Not everyone left, and their BMP became our trophy You can inspect, the sappers have already checked. But still look under your feet. ” a Russian soldier told Ria reporters.
The Ukrainian military left the company stronghold in a hurry, leaving behind their property: bulletproof vests, helmets, pea coats, unopened zinc with cartridges, grenade launcher “carrots” – shots from RPG-7, field first-aid kits, equipped machine-gun belts, automatic magazines.
A little to the side is an artillery position with a broken 120mm mortar. And by the road itself, there is a capping from the British NLAW anti-tank missile system.
Some Ukrainian soldiers were said to have willing laid down their weapons, according to the report.
“I saw footage of dead civilians in Donbass,” admits medical shooter Marina Kravtsova from the Lugansk region. “But our soldiers were also killed.
We need to help both. I graduated from medical courses, I decided to go on a contract to save life.
When they let me go home, apparently, I will return not to Ukraine, but to the LPR. But it does not matter what state and who is in power. The main thing is that people live well.” according to Ria.
It is difficult to decide if these men and women willingly laid down their weapons as the Russian army claims, or are captured. But from the pictures and how they look, you can make your conclusions.