Russia is nervous, claims that Donetsk is in danger: military expert Selezniov on liberation of Opytne in Donetsk region

He shared the statement on Espreso TV.

"In fact, the situation has been very tense for almost a month ago in the area of Avdiivka's 9th district. Russian enemy was putting pressure on Ukrainian defensive lines and positions there. It was constantly trying to semi-encircle the fortress city of Avdiivka, trying to repeat its success in the area of Bakhmut," said the former spokesman for the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Vladyslav Selezniov added that the Russian forces have run out of the Wagner’s fighters, and the Russian Storm Z units failed to implement the plan for Avdiivka. In addition, the defensive lines and positions around this city were created in 2014 and have only been strengthened all this time.

"The Ukrainian army, as soon as it felt that the Russian enemy began to move its reserves from this section of the front, moved forward and so effectively that it even entered the village of Opytne. However, the enemy began to actively use artillery, so we were forced to retreat to the outskirts of this settlement. The Ukrainian forces there have consolidated their positions and gained new ground, "dug in". And of course, the enemy is nervous, shouting that Donetsk is in danger," the military expert commented.

Selezniov stressed that Donetsk is the capital of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, and obviously, the situation is quite unpleasant for Russian enemy.

"It is unlikely that this tactical episode can radically change the situation on the battlefield. But there is a key point here: the enemy is now once again forced to move its reserves, which are already scarce, to this part of the frontline in order to slow down the Ukrainian offensive here as much as possible. Because Russia does not know what the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is planning. It is likely that this is where active hostilities will develop in the next 4-6 weeks. We can only imagine Putin's despair if it turns out that part of the city of Donetsk may come under the control of the Ukrainian army," the reserve colonel said.

• The day before, the head of the Avdiivka military administration Vitaliy Barabash said that the Ukrainian army had taken part of Opytne near Donetsk, and that fighting was ongoing in the town.

• On September 11, Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar confirmed the liberation of part of Opytne near Avdiivka, Donetsk region. Over the week, the Ukrainian Armed Forces de-occupied another 2 square kilometers in the Bakhmut sector and 1.5 square kilometers in the south