Ukrainian military forces have completely thwarted Russian plans to capture Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in the Donetsk region, forcing the enemy to switch to a defensive stance. This was announced by Maksym Zhorin, Deputy Commander of the 3rd Army Corps, while commenting on the current operational and tactical situation along this front sector.
Details of the Operation and Changing Enemy Plans
According to the Ukrainian officer, Russian units planned to encircle the cities using tactical pincer movements and defeat the defense forces. However, during a successful operation codenamed "Vivaldi," one of the enemy's strike groups was completely eliminated.
Such actions by Ukrainian units made it not only possible to stop the enemy's advance but also to push them back. Currently, Russian forces within the corps' area of responsibility are focused exclusively on holding positions and attempting to stabilize the frontline, having abandoned offensive plans.
Strategic Importance of the Cities and Evacuation
Previously, the leadership of Ukraine repeatedly emphasized the critical importance of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. In particular, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the loss of these settlements could open a path for the Russian army deeper into the Dnipropetrovsk region, including Pavlohrad and Dnipro.
Against the backdrop of ongoing intense shelling and a difficult security situation in the region, authorities decided to expand the mandatory evacuation zone for families with children. This measure affected all settlements within the Kramatorsk and Sloviansk communities.
Frontline Consequences
The successful repulse of the offensive in this direction had a significant impact on the morale and psychological state of Russian units. According to the Ukrainian military, this caused a major resonance and confusion in the enemy's information space.
The disruption of the Russian command's large-scale design significantly changed the configuration of forces in eastern Ukraine. Now, the defense forces face the task of securing the achieved lines and further preventing the enemy's attempts to regroup.
