Ukraine War Battle Report 12-8

[james03]

Top level view, I heard the best description of Bakhmut.  Charnel House.

I also repeat that this fighting has the savor of the April/May period when the Russian forces were liberating Luhansk.  Attacks all along the front with artillery, Ukraine forces showing low morale, finally a break at Popasnaya, and then Russian forces pour through and expand the salient.  It ended with the fall of Severdonetsk and Lizichansk.  The only difference is that it is too muddy to do the breakthrough yet.  Morale is also low.  I saw a video of a Ukraine unit swearing to come to Kiev and lynch the government.  They said, "You better hope the Russians get there first".  Another unit says they are lighting fires in their trenches to get warm.  They no longer care if it gives up their position, they just need to get warm.  Also, the trenches are not just full of water.  There's probably human excrement, blood, and guts mixed in.  Expect cholera and dysentery to start taking its toll.  Bakhmut is a charnel house and the Ukraine Army is getting chewed to pieces.

Another report from LPR forces state that they are picking up a lot on people talking in English and Polish on the radios.

Put it all together, and the Ukraine Army is staring at a major defeat somewhere on the line after the ground freezes.  Also, it is the Russians who are initiating attacks in most engagements, showing they have the initiative.

Kharkov Front:  Positional fighting.  Russia launched a minor offensive.

Siversk Front:  Heavy fighting continues east of Siversk.

Donetsk Front:  Heavy fighting north and south of Bakhmut.  No territorial gains to report.  Russians continue slow advance (street fighting) in Maryinka.  Speculation that Druzhba is a target for Russia, south of Bakhmut near Toretsk.  Positional fighting at the Pisky salient.  Terror shelling continues on Donetsk City. 

Ugledar Front:  some pick up in activity with a battle at Novomikhailovka, but nothing major.  When Maryinka is liberated, Ugledar's days will be numbered.

Melitopol Front:  Ukraine continues to shell the nuke plant.

[james03]

To give yourself the savor of what is going on, look at this positional map.  This is Rybar, you'll see the same picture on UALive map.  Note all the red flame icons showing Russian artillery/infantry attacks.  Russia has the initiative.  Somewhere along all of that a Ukraine unit will break, and Russian armor will pour through.  The mud is what is preventing this now.