Russia actively exports cargo of unknown origin from China. Serhiy Zgurets' column

Stable defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Bakhmut

Surely everyone has already seen the video where our military is resting in mud-filled trenches near Bakhmut. Although it hardly looks like a vacation. The fighting near Bakhmut is now very fierce. Russian forces have been shelling the city since July. The battle for Bakhmut turned into the exhaustion of one of the parties. During the day, the Russian military and mercenaries from the Wagner PMC can attack the positions Ukrainian Armed Forces more than ten times. Now the enemy is trying to attack Bakhmut from the South. These are attacks on Klishchiyivka, Kurdymivka and Ozerianivka. The Russian army is also trying to approach the railway track between Klishchiyivka and Kurdymivka. According to the New York Times journalists who visited the military hospital near Bakhmut, more than 240 of our wounded soldiers were taken to the medical facility during the day. Russian forces' losses in this direction are an order of magnitude higher. Our military, despite the large-scale pressure of the enemy, holds the defense and even counterattacks. In recent days, our troops near Bakhmut have received reinforcements from other brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which affected the course of the fighting. The Russian army's strategy towards Bakhmut resembles their actions to capture the cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk. In particular, Russian troops relied on artillery to overcome the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, then our troops lacked artillery and shells for it. Now the situation has changed. We have enough artillery systems and ammunition for them. We predict that active dynamics of fighting will continue to be observed in this sector of the front. Therefore, we must be aware of the courage with which our soldiers defend our land.

The situation in the Donetsk region as of November 28

Russians strengthen defense line in southern Ukraine with concrete structures

In the south of Ukraine, the Russian army is trying to strengthen its defense not with equipment and trained personnel, but with concrete fortifications. The American Institute for the study of war today analyzed satellite images and found that the Russian army is building roadblocks throughout the occupied territory of the Kherson region. The images show concrete pyramids weighing more than 2 tons each, as well as anti-tank ditches and trench lines behind these concrete structures. Unlike the same Russian defense lines near Svatovo and Kreminna, where these structures were solid, in the Kherson region they are sporadic and stand near roads and highways leading to the occupied Crimea.

Map of the defensive lines of Russian troops in the occupied territory of Ukraine

Continuation of the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Pavlo Lakiychuk, Head of Security Programs at the Center for Global Studies, is convinced that the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has several plans to continue the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian army. This applies to offensive actions in each of the directions. In his opinion, the military-political leadership takes into account the entire current situation and is preparing to attract an optimal and realistic plan for the liberation of Ukrainian territories. The expert noted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces do not liberate certain regions and territories that Russia has captured. According to him, the entire territory of Ukraine should be considered as one theater of military operations. This is important to understand. Also, the analyst of security programs at the Center for Global Studies believes that an operation to cross the Dnipro river cannot be ruled out to continue the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian army on the left bank of the Kherson region. In his opinion, the possibility of such an operation depends on the actions of the enemy. Since the Russian leadership considers the occupied territories of Ukraine in the south and North-East to be key areas.

In November, more than 37 cargo flights were operated from Russia to China

Oleh Katkov, editor-in-chief of Defense Express, said that the number of cargo plane flights from Russia to China has increased significantly over the past week. According to him, after all the flight tracking available in the open space has been raised, you can clearly see how the number of such flights is increasing. For example, the Russian airline Volga-Dnepr made 3 flights to China on An-124 aircraft in September of this year. In October, the number of flights increased to 11 flights. In November, Russia made 37 flights to China. That is, according to the expert, the growth of flights is simply at an abnormal speed. If you monitor messages on social networks and in the state media of China, you can come across various information. People in the comments to the video, in which the Russian AN-124 lands at a Chinese airport, write that military cargo is still loaded into the planes. The Chinese media deny this information. In detail, more than 1,500 tons of cargo were transported on such flights in November. However, there is still not enough verified information that these goods are transported. The expert is convinced that in any case, this is a very important and valuable cargo.

Translation of a Telegram post:

Serhiy Zgurets, defense Express analyst, on the air Espreso channel:

The battle for Bakhmut turned into the exhaustion of one of the parties. During the day, the Russian military and mercenaries from the Wagner PMC can attack the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces more than ten times. Now the enemy is trying to attack Bakhmut from the South. These are attacks on Klishchiyivka, Kurdymivka and Ozerianivka. The Russian army is also trying to approach the railway track between Klishchiyivka and Kurdymivka.

According to the New York Times journalists who visited the military hospital near Bakhmut, more than 240 of our wounded soldiers were taken to the medical facility during the day. Russian forces' losses in this direction are an order of magnitude higher. Our military, despite the large-scale pressure of the enemy, holds the defense and even counterattacks. In recent days, our troops near Bakhmut have received reinforcements from other brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which affected the course of the fighting.