Despite the highly publicized Ukrainian “counteroffensive” on the Kherson front, created by Kyiv and the Western (as well as Greek) media, events developed in a completely opposite direction.
In particular, the Russians moved reinforcements, apparently from Mariupol and Donbass, to the line of contact in Nikolaev and in recent days have seriously advanced towards the Ukrainian city, capturing Blagodatnoe, which is only 35 km from Nikolaev.
The Russian army has quietly deprived the Ukrainian Armed Forces of any counterattack opportunity they had or thought they had, and are now on the offensive to get closer to Nikolaev, which is the main obstacle to Odessa.
The main reason why the Russian General Staff wants to capture the city in the near future is that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have placed Western weapons systems there to destroy targets in the Crimea.
#Russian forces made marginal gains along the #Mykolaiv–#Kherson line. (4/5) pic.twitter.com/ziVgzFBtrP
— Critical Threats (@criticalthreats) August 23, 2022
Southern Axis Update: #Ukraine #Russian forces conducted multiple assaults on the #Mykolaiv–#Kherson line and likely captured the frontline village of #BlahodatneMykolaiv Oblast, approximately 35 km from #Mykolaiv City, on August 22.
ISW pic.twitter.com/pqNPHjTLoq
— Diplomacy140 (@Diplomacy140) August 23, 2022
#Russia shelling #Ukraine positions in #Mykolaiv with TOS-1 thermobaric . Very close range and very impressive secondary ammo explosion! pic.twitter.com/L5wsBz66EX
— CrisP (@crispSV) August 22, 2022
Fuerzas rusas avanzando hacia #Mykolaiv
El ejército ruso trajo varios nuevos grupos de batalla a la batalla en la frontera de las regiones #Kherson y #Nikolaev – #Arestovich #Kharkiv #Odessa #Bakhmut #Sloviansk #Kiev #Kyiv https://t.co/H4CYa9ZfPQ— NOTICIAS MUNDIALES SIN CENSURA OFICIAL PT (@MundialesPt) August 23, 2022
As for the Donbass, the operations are carried out by the armed forces of Lugansk and Donetsk, supported by powerful Russian artillery.
In Soledar (a suburb of Bakhmut), the Russians occupied the Knauf-Gypsum plant.
Their progress is slow, and the “withdrawal” of the Ukrainian defense line Bakhmut-Seversk is especially difficult, since Kyiv “invested” in this front the best that it has left in terms of personnel and weapons systems.
If this line of defense collapses, the road to Slavyansk-Kramatorsk and Gorlovka will be open, as there will not be enough units available to stop the Russian advance.
#soledar situation map on 22/8/22
7th Brigade of the DPR took control of sand stockpile (heights) east of gypsum quarry. pic.twitter.com/z0gEVZ82QI— Military Advisor (@miladvisor) August 22, 2022
🔺
▪️ In the #Bakhmut (#Artemovsk) direction fighting continues:
➖In #soledar forces of the #LPR were able to occupy the site of a gypsum quarry near the Knauf-Gypsum enterprise. Clashes occurred in the area of Zalevsky Street and the refractory materials plant.
2/7…🔻— 🇬🇧🇺🇦 News from Slavyangrad ⚔ Reports & Vids 🔥 (@DeuNachrichten) August 23, 2022
⚡️⚔️ Donbass offensive #Ukraine at the end of August 22, 2022⚡️
by @rybar:
▪️ In the #Kharkov region are no significant changes on the frontline. RF troops have launched several missile attacks on #AFU facilities in Kharkov; artillery duels near the contact line.
1/7…🔻 pic.twitter.com/aW7TWe5gHM— 🇬🇧🇺🇦 News from Slavyangrad ⚔ Reports & Vids 🔥 (@DeuNachrichten) August 23, 2022
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