Russian forces try to seize initiative along entire frontline - military expert Serhiy Zgurets

Russian troops are trying to seize the initiative on the battlefield

Speaking about the frontline, it looks quite static on the map, but in reality, it is very dynamic and active in each area. This applies, in particular, to the South, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and the Kupyansk-Lyman direction. By the way, there were 87 combat engagements over the past day. This is the highest level of combat activity for the entire month. It can be assumed that after the main phase of the Ukrainian offensive in the Zaporizhzhia region, the Russian forces are now trying to seize the initiative. The invaders, despite the enormous losses, kept trying to put pressure on the Ukrainian troops’ defense in various areas.

The enemy is still making attempts to break through to Kupyansk-Vuzlove. They wanted to do this last winter and summer. However, without any success. Now, after regrouping and reinforcing their troops, they continue to put pressure on the Ukrainian defense in this area. The village of Synkivka, which is 9 kilometers from Kupyansk, is under great pressure from the invading army. Over the past few days, the Russian forces have had success in this area. The Russian units have slipped to the northern outskirts of Synkivka, but they cannot gain a foothold there.

Map of combat operations in the Kupyansk sector as of November 29

Russia is constantly bringing reserves in the Lyman-Kupyansk direction

Nadiia Zamryha, spokesperson for the 14th Detached Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Roman the Great, said that the Russian forces in the Kupyansk sector have started using more equipment to attack closer to the front line and are also deploying infantry with the help of equipment. According to her, over the past few days, several tanks that were moving toward Ukrainian positions were destroyed. This indicates that the aerial reconnaissance of the Defense Forces is working quite effectively.

She said that in the Kupyansk sector, Russia is constantly bringing reserves due to heavy losses in personnel. The quality of these reserves is low. According to the major, there are many Russians in the Kupyansk sector who were in prison a month ago. They undergo a few days of training and are immediately deployed to the frontlines.

A new system of procurement of material for the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ needs

Maksym Plekhov, chairman of the board of the Lviv Defense Cluster, an association of volunteers and defense sector enterprises, said that today 10 companies are working on defense orders under their supervision. The main products they produce are materiel. In particular, uniforms, military equipment and body armor.

Plekhov also spoke about the workload of these companies this year. In the first half of the year, procurement under direct contracts continued. In the middle of the year, all companies returned to working under the Prozorro system. He emphasized that this step has significantly improved the work of the companies. This solution creates a competitive procedure for companies that manufacture products for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. After that, according to Plekhov, the regulatory framework for military acceptance was returned. This regulatory framework does not allow the supply of low-quality products to the Ministry of Defense. He also said that after returning to the Prozorro system, procurement did not take place because most MoD employees were not ready for this. Today, many questions about corruption risks have also been addressed. Plekhov added that after the change of leadership at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, procurement resumed.

Bulletproof vest for the Ukrainian Armed Forces (photo: mil.gov.ua)

Maksym Plekhov said that every company can participate in the tender announced by the Ministry of Defense. According to him, if the company in question realizes that it can fulfill the order, it can participate in the tender. He added that there are talks and plans to create a list of orders for next year by the end of this year. This will be a big step forward. Therefore, manufacturers hope for such a decision.

According to Maksym Plekhov, there are no contracts from the Defense Ministry today, or rather, they do not exist. This was the first condition to remove any corruption risks. Today, all orders from the Defense Ministry will be placed publicly through the Prozorro system. Every company is ready to cooperate with the Ministry, but they are ready to do so publicly. That is why, according to Plekhov, the ministry's tenders have already been announced by the end of this year. There is also information about the planned needs for the beginning of next year, and a completely new system of procurement of material property for the needs of the Armed Forces is expected to be in place by March 2024.