The Armed Forces of Ukraine capable of creating a hard line of defense in the center of Donbas. Serhii Zhurets column

British intelligence estimates

British intelligence says that the situation is characterized by low rates of advance and massive artillery strikes by the enemy. The RF troops razed the objects with artillery. According to the British experts, this tactic will continue to be used when the Russians have to go to the facilities of the Donetsk region. The next key contest, according to the British, will be the battle for Slaviansk, with the Russian forces being only 20 km away. This conclusion was confirmed today by the deputy of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Hanna Maliar. She said that fierce fighting is ongoing in the Sloviansk direction, with both sides using heavy weapon. What is meant is rather the use of mortars, artillery and other equipment.

Analysis of the situation on the fronts

The Lysychansk front is interesting, as Russia will seek to press and use its exhausted but still active potential to advance to Slaviansk and Kramatorsk sooner than we can stabilize our line of defense along the Siversk - Soledar - Bakhmut route. This line of defense is stabilized. The dominant heights around this route from Siversk to Bakhmut will be a tough cookie for any enemy actions. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have capacities to initiate a hard line of defense in the center of Donbass and stop the advance of Russian troops, planning to go to Sloviansk and be able to break through our defenses near the city. If we use foreign weapons, we will be able to use them according to the current tactics and situation.

The enemy has two areas of concentration of forces, where it will act and try to ensure an advance to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. There are two such directions. The first one - from Izium to Dolyna, Krasnopillia, Bohorodychne, which were attacked, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine repulsed the attackers. The enemy also tried to advance towards Sloviansk from Dovhenke through Mazanivka. Russian troops are trying to find ways to get to Sloviansk from different directions. Foreign equipment is likely to arrive on time, and it is preferred to arrive even earlier. So far, we are conducting combat actions relying on the potential of Soviet weapons, effectively using HIMARS.

The second direction where the enemy is trying to break through is from Lysychansk to Siversk. Verkhniokamianske, Bilohorivka and Hryhorivka are the directions where the Armed Forces repel the enemy actions and prevents them from moving towards Siversk.

The next direction is the forces around Bakhmut. The enemy attempts to use the accumulated potential concentrated around Popasna. The troops around Bakhmut are trying to create conditions for an offensive operation, but are focused on blocking the routes leading to Bakhmut. There are several such routes, going to Bakhmut in two ways: from Popasna and from the settlements of Rota and Vidrodzhennia. Regular units of the Russian army and Wagner units operate in this zone, being more efficient and ensuring certain successes in the advance of Russian troops in the area.

The next direction, which is also connected with Bakhmut, is Novoluhanske, Vershyna, Kodema. These localities were shelled and there are attempts to move to ensure the cutting of a number of routes leading to Bakhmut. The defense junction connected with Slaviansk and Kramatorsk remains tempting for the Russian army, which is trying to advance from several directions. But all the enemy advances are blocked by the Ukrainian army. This situation will be typical in the coming days and weeks.

South direction

In the South, Ukrainian troops continue to advance in certain directions. The Kherson direction is characterized with 13 BTG of the enemy being scattered around a wide front of about 250 km. Under such conditions, it is possible to implement measures related to the displacement of the enemy.

A number of foreign experts encourage Ukraine to correctly choose and use this window of opportunity. We have a certain potential, and the enemy has not yet managed to gain a foothold in this area. The enemy is trying to strengthen its defense with artillery and air defense systems. This tendency remains the same, and we need to choose a moment to carry out counter-offensive actions.

The war continues and every day has its own characteristics – dark and bright moments.

Risks of Belarus participation in the war against Ukraine

There are risks that the Belarusian dictator Lukashenko is ready to use his army for hostilities against Ukraine under the pressure from Putin. The conclusions of our military highlight that there are currently no signs of offensive group in Belarus. 7 Belarusian battalions have been on the border with Ukraine for a long time and are preparing to be there by the end of the year. On the other hand, trainings are still going on, being extended for several more weeks.

Read also: When will the Belarusians attack and will they attack at all: forecasts from military experts.

The self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Lukashenko, made a number of statements that a unified army had been created and that he had long ago identified Belarus participation in a special operation against Ukraine as a necessary step. Military hysteria is actively supported by Lukashenko. And we cannot ignore it. Equipment and weapons within the arsenals of the Belarusian army are transferred in certain portions to strengthen the Russian army, creating conditions for further aggressive actions against Ukraine.