Feb 20: Incredible! Ukrainians Break Behind Russian Lines And Bomb Them - Reporting from Ukraine

[TexasTowelie]

Day 727: Feb 20

Today there is a lot of interesting news from the Bakhmut direction.

The most interesting event happened on the southern flank near Klischivka.

Ukrainians started engaging their aviation in this direction a few days ago, while now they launched a successful aerial incursion hitting Russian targets several kilometers behind the frontline. Based on geolocated footage a Ukrainian Mi-Eight helicopter managed to fly very close to Russian lines and fire a salvo of S-Eight rockets at enemy positions three kilometers behind the frontline. The helicopter maintained a low altitude and launched countermeasures. They contributed to preventing portable air-defense systems from shooting it down. If Ukrainians were targeting positions three kilometers behind the frontlines then they likely targeted forces concentrations. It is not headquarters because in this case they would use HIMARS to destroy stationary targets. Force concentrations enable them to launch one wave after another, so a successful airstrike here should alleviate pressure on Klischiivka, which is good news.

When it comes to the northern flank the situation is much more difficult.

Last time we talked about this section of the front Russian airborne forces managed to advance and occupy the small cemetery and a forest to the north of Ivanivske. Russians forces are trying to maintain the momentum and keep their advance towards Chasiv Yar. Here, Ukrainian fighters reported that the enemy continued with their repeated attacks where extensive artillery and aerial bombardments combined with FPV drone strikes that were launched before the attacks which were undertaken by armored columns. In the videos published by Russian forces we can see BMD-Four infantry fighting vehicles providing fire support while dismounting Russian infantry proceeded to assault Ukrainian positions. Unfortunately for the Russians, many of these armored units found themselves targeted by Ukrainian FPV drone operators from the forty-second mechanized brigade that left many Russian vehicles destroyed around Berkhivka and Khromove before they even had a chance to engage the Ukrainians.

Ukrainians published videos showing how their anti-tank operators are taking out Russian tanks. Operators of Ukrainian made Stugna-P systems have a laptop-like panel wired to the AT system by up to fifty meters in distance, enabling the operators to acquire targets from the safety of their fortified position, away from the exposed AT system. Operators of First Border Guard Detachment took out the first Russian tank. Right after that a second one was destroyed by Territorial Defense and the third one was disoriented and left abandoned. Moments later, drone operators were sent to finish off the remaining vehicles and their crews that attempted to escape.

Some sources claimed that Russians have entered Ivanivske and that fighting is taking place on the eastern edges of the village but geolocated footage proves that Russians are only near the road to Ivanivske approximately two hundred meters away from the farthest edge of the village. Simultaneously, Russian sources claim to launch assaults at the hills to the north of Ivanivske after they have capitalized on their advances in the forest, but so far we do not have any confirmations of any gains around here.

In the previous video I have stated that Ukrainians were pushed out of the forest by sheer number of attacks launched by Russians, one after the other. As it turns out, based on geolocated footage, Ukrainians still control western edges of the small forest and a tree line behind it which links it to Chasiv Yar. This puts the distance of Russian forces from Chasiv Yar at some one point ninety kilometers.

When it comes to Chasiv Yar itself the town is the main hub for deployment and rotation of Ukrainian forces engaged in the Bakhmut direction which caused extensive Russian glide bomb strikes on the town, however Russian bombs seem to have inflicted the most damage to civilian homes.

[niyad]

1. Slava Ukraini. Thank you for the update.

[Deuxcents]

2. I just read a depressing post about Ukraine soldiers being trapped in combat..

A lot of them. Some wounded had to be left behind. This op doesn’t address it. I read these updates and can’t figure out if things are going good for Ukraine or they’re being overrun. I know we all wish victory but we’re just observing a country being destroyed by a madman and as much as I hate war, I wish the allies would be able to go in en mass and end this war. Apologies for my rant..I lost my train of thought..