Ukraine's Donbas Troops Achieve Strategic Goal, Force Russians To Waste Reserves

The Ukrainian defenders of Pokrovsk, Kurakhove and other subsectors of that front have already achieved their strategic objective by forcing Russia to expend its reserves in battles they were expected to win without them. 

Russian losses on a limited part of the Donetsk front are so severe that it has prevented the Kremlin from achieving any sort of meaningful victory anywhere, let alone the broad gains it had expected. JL

Espreso Ukraine reports:

Ukrainian Armed Forces in Vuhledar, Kurakhove, and Pokrovsk have achieved strategic objectives in defending the region because the Russians are losing their reserves. "In the Pokrovsk area, Russia has massed 70,000 troops, near Kurakhove about 40,000, and in Vremivka another 35,000-40,000. That's 150,000 Russian soldiers concentrated in a narrow sector, forces that could have been deployed elsewhere. On top of that, the Russians have already lost 150,000 troops, either killed or wounded, as well as around 2,000 pieces of equipment. This clearly shows that Russia is exhausting its strategic reserves in a confined area,"

Ivan Tymochko, chairman of the Council of Reservists of Ukrainian Land Forces, highlighted that Russian forces near Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Vremivka, despite achieving tactical gains, are losing their strategic reserves

He shared this on Espreso TV.

"About the retreat to the Kurakhove TPP: it's hard to view it as a separate fortified position or as an object suitable for autonomous defense in this area. The Russians have also advanced along the Kurakhove reservoir. If a defense line isn't established on the flanks, the situation could become very challenging. On the other hand, the Russians have indeed concentrated significant forces here but still can't breach the defensive line. This means our troops have the chance to fall back, if necessary, to positions that allow for counteraction," he said.

According to Tymochko, the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Vuhledar, Kurakhove, and Pokrovsk have achieved strategic objectives in defending the region.

"In the Pokrovsk area, Russia has massed around 70,000 troops, near Kurakhove about 40,000, and in the Vremivka direction another 35,000-40,000. That's roughly 150,000 Russian soldiers concentrated in a narrow sector — forces that could have been deployed elsewhere on the front. On top of that, the Russians have already lost 150,000 troops, either killed or wounded, as well as around 2,000 pieces of equipment, according to British intelligence. This clearly shows that while making tactical advances, Russia is exhausting its strategic reserves in such a confined area," Tymochko summarized.

 

On December 18, Ukraine's Khortytsia troop grouping reported that Russian assault units attacked Defense Force positions in urban areas of Chasiv Yar, on its southeastern outskirts, and in the southern urban zones of Kurakhove.

• The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that on December 18, combat clashes on the Russian-Ukrainian front surged to 250. The fiercest battles remain concentrated in the Kursk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Vremivka directions.