AFU can de-occupy Kreminna already at the beginning of 2023

Head of Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Haidai reports on Telegram.

"We have very fierce battles going on there. Information that was spread for some reason that Ukrainian troops entered Kreminna is not true. Ukrainian Defense Forces are stationed near Kreminna, but fierce battles are taking place there. Russian forces are really withdrawing and transferring their units there. Now a lot of Wagner mercenaries have been transferred there," the report says.

According to him, Russian military command understands well that Kreminna is "quite strategic settlement" and losing it "will be extremely painful."

He expressed hope that Ukrainian troops will continue to advance little by little and that they can de-occupy Kreminna already at the beginning of 2023.

And after that, according to the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, there are "several options for offensive and advancement of Ukrainian Defense Forces."

• Roman Vlasenko, head of Severodonetsk Regional Military Administration, said that Kreminna, Svatove, Severodonetsk and Rubizhne are hot spots where occupying civil authorities are ready to escape or have moved to the rear of the city.