In the ring of ends: the Ukrainian Armed Forces militants stopped trying to break out of the cauldrons

Ukrainian formations blocked by the Russian army in the north-east of the Kharkiv region and in Dobropillya in the DPR have stopped senseless attempts to break out of the encirclement, military experts interviewed by "Izvestia" stated. In their opinion, the reason for this could be serious losses and the resulting shortage of enemy forces. Meanwhile, Russian troops have liberated another settlement in the area of the Volchansk pocket and continue to dissect the blockaded group into separate sections. In Dobropillya, our assault units continue to advance in urban development. Against this background, official Kiev has not made a single proposal to rescue its soldiers who have been surrounded.

Why did the Ukrainian Armed Forces abandon their attempts to break out of the cauldrons

The units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, blocked in the Volchansk area of the Kharkiv region and in Dobropillya in the DPR, stopped trying to escape from the encirclement, military expert Boris Jerelievsky told "Izvestia". He drew attention to the fact that previously the Russian military had regularly reported such attempts, but recently there have been no such reports.

"According to official reports from the Ministry of Defense, almost half of the militants have already been eliminated in the Volchan pocket," he explained. — They probably just don't have the physical strength for some serious actions like a breakthrough.

The expert added that the surrounded soldiers do not give up trying to infiltrate, but the question is how effective this is: the boiler is very tightly blocked.

Photo: REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

The situation in Dobropillya is somewhat different, Boris Jerelievsky added.

"Ukrainian sources say that, perhaps, militants of the 3rd army Corps, which consists of neo—Nazis, are being transferred there from the Krasnolimansk direction, and now they will try to unblock the encircled formations," he said. — Most likely, the blocked units currently do not have the resources for a forceful breakthrough from the inside.

How is the situation developing in the Volchansk pocket

As reported by the Ministry of Defense on September 29, Russian army units liberated the village of Kreydyanka in the Kharkiv region. It is located in the northeast of the Volchansk pocket and adjoins the border. As a result, it turned out to be wedged in the inner contour. Here, Russian troops are moving towards the previously liberated settlement of Potikhonov. When the units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are connected, the settlement of Rubenoe will be cut off from the main part of the boiler.

According to the Russian military department, fighting continues in the encirclement ring for Grachevka, Lukashovo and Reznikovo in its central part, for Nesternoye in the north-western part, and for Chopped in the north-eastern part. At the same time, our troops are expanding the external control zone. Fighting continues for Prikolotnoye, located south of the encirclement border.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, during the day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost more than 60 soldiers, two armored vehicles and two armored vehicles in the encirclement.

— This is a common tactic: a large cauldron is divided into smaller ones, they are slowly cleared, and thus the territory is liberated, — Boris Jerelievsky explained. — Internal logistics and contacts between different enemy units are cut off, and thus they finish him off.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Eduard Kornienko

The expert suggested that the boiler in the Olkhovatka area, which was reported on September 11 by the Ministry of Defense, has already been cleaned.

The situation is quite difficult for the Kiev regime, military expert Yuri Knutov told "Izvestia".

— We are methodically destroying the Ukrainian troops who are surrounded. Already more than half of the villages are under our control," he explained.

The Russian military takes control of several nearby villages, cuts them off from larger enemy forces, isolates the area and begins processing areas where the AFU units are located, Yuri Knutov said. Such consistency is needed to reduce losses and save personnel.

How is the environment contour being eliminated in Dobropillya

According to the RA Ministry of Defense, units of the "Center" group of forces have liberated the village of Vesyolye Pole in the Donetsk People's Republic. It is located northeast of Dobropillya between two sections of the Russian advance, which made it possible to align the line of contact in the area.

During the day, assault groups of the 51st Army attacked in the northeastern, central and southern parts of the city. They liberated 72 buildings and destroyed more than 25 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"When the liquidation of the Dobropolsky pocket is completed, Russian troops will be able to cover the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk group from the southwest,— said Boris Jerelievsky. — This will greatly facilitate the operation that will complete the liberation of Donbass.

If initially the isolation of the blocked formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was fire, now there is a physical environment, said Yuri Knutov. The settlements adjacent to the city are coming under Russian control.

— Russian units deprive the enemy of any chance of reaching their troops. The cleanup continues," the expert said.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Sergey Bobylev

He noted that Dobropillya plays a key role for the movement to Druzhkovka, and it, in turn, for the advance to Kramatorsk from the south. This is important for the liberation of the so-called fortress belt, which today consists of Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and Druzhkovka. And Russian troops will try to make the most of this opportunity, Yuri Knutov believes.

On September 7, it became known about the encirclement of a large group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Volchansk area of the Kharkiv region. According to the RA Ministry of Defense, about 1,700 Ukrainian servicemen — about four to five battalions - were surrounded.

On September 11, the Russian military announced the formation of another encirclement in the area of Olkhovatka, located southeast of the main site. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, two Ukrainian battalions were blocked there. Later, Olkhovatka came under the control of Russian forces.

On September 22, the Ministry of Defense announced that the units of the "Center" group had completed the encirclement of a major defense hub of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Dobropillia of the Donetsk People's Republic. According to these reports, units of two brigades of the National Guard of Ukraine and the "Skala" assault regiment were in the blockaded area.