Russians gain upper hand in Donetsk

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Feb 2023 20:19
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The southern group of the Russian armed forces has captured key positions in Donetsk inflicting heavy damage on enemy forces.

DPR soldier in the Donbas region walking in front of a crowd waving the flags of the Russian Federation and the Donetsk People's Republic (Reuters)

According to reports by the Russian Defense Ministry, the southern group of the Russian armed forces captured Friday key positions in Donetsk, destroying two ammunition depots, one fuel depot, and two pieces of equipment, including an American AN/TPQ-37 mobile radar system, in addition to eliminating up to 40 enemy soldiers.

"In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern group of forces have taken more advantageous lines and positions during an offensive. Over the past day, up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen, a 152 mm howitzer ‘Msta-B,’ as well as the US-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery radar have been destroyed in this direction," the ministry said.

Additionally, Russian forces have destroyed two ammunition storage facilities in the villages of Kurakhivka and Mykhailivka, as well as a fuel storage facility for the Ukrainian military close to the Kiev-controlled city of Pokrovsk (formerly known as Krasnoarmiisk).

The MoD had reported that operational-tactical aircraft, missile, and artillery units of the Russian armed forces targeted 78 artillery units at firing positions in total, as well as personnel and military gear in 105 various locations.

The ministry further claimed that three Ukrainian military missile and artillery weapon storage units in the DPR's Malynivka and Avdiivka and Zaporozhye Druzhelyubivka regions had also been attacked.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced Thursday that Russian Aviation and Artillery destroyed two US missile launchers near the city of Kramatorsk, DPR.

"US-made M142 HIMARS [High Mobility Artillery Rocket System] and M270 MLRS [Multiple Launch Rocket System] missile launchers were destroyed near the city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk People's Republic," the statement read.

The MoD reported that operational-tactical aircraft, missile, and artillery units of the Russian armed forces targeted 78 artillery units at firing positions in total, as well as personnel and military gear in 105 various locations.

The ministry further said that three Ukrainian military missile and artillery weapon storage units in the DPR's Malynivka and Avdiivka and Zaporizhzhia's Druzhelyubivka regions had also been attacked.

Late in January 2023, the advisor to the acting head of the DPR, Igor Kimakovsky, confirmed that Russian troops have entered and surrounded the city of Vuhledar in the DPR.