Necessary pincers: Russian troops surround the last stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbass

Russian troops continue to advance towards Kramatorsk from the east and south, seeking to cover the largest remaining fortified area of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbass, the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration. At the current stage, the task of the Russian military is to cut off the enemy from supplies and weaken its defenses, experts say.

How Russian troops are covering the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration

The Russian armed forces have taken control of the settlements of Fedorovka II and Pavlovka in the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Fedorovka II is located about 16 km east of Kramatorsk. Pavlovka is located about 16 km south of this city.

According to military expert Boris Jerelievsky, Russian troops are implementing tactics to cover the agglomeration.

"This is a tactic that has been used many times before,— he explained. — It allows you to minimize losses and at the same time disrupt the logistics of the enemy, forcing him to retreat. The task is to reduce supply lines, deprive the enemy of ammunition supplies, as well as opportunities for rotation and evacuation.

The Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration occupies a significant area with a diameter of several tens of kilometers. The Ukrainian Armed Forces occupied it in the summer of 2014 and have been building fortifications and warehouses there ever since.

— It's not easy to take it by frontal assault. That's why our troops are trying to cover it," Boris Jerelievsky said. — Next, work will begin on enemy deployment points, warehouses, firing positions, and drone positions. When the defense line is discharged, our assault groups will begin to infiltrate. After that, the disorganization of the entire city defense and street fighting will begin, but in a different situation: when the enemy does not understand where our troops are, from which side they are attacking, and where their own are located. This is usually the end.

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Military expert Yuri Knutov draws attention to the fact that in parallel with the offensive from the south and east, Russian troops are advancing in the north of the DPR. According to him, the units are trying to reach Slavyansk and Kramatorsk from the northern and northeastern directions. In this part of the region, they approached the border with the Kharkiv region, which in the future may allow them to develop an offensive to the south.

— Thus, we are cutting off the logistics supply of the agglomeration from the north with the help of drones and missiles, — said Yuri Knutov. — And from below we go to Dolgopolye. The goal is to go west and go from south to north. Thus, we have giant pincers around the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration.

There is approximately 50 km of continuous line of fortifications, long-term firing points, and shelters for personnel in this area. Despite this, Russian troops continue to advance from east to west.

"The offensive is coming from two sides: on the one hand, we are cutting off the Slavyansk—Kramatorsk group and working on the rear communications, and on the other, we are slowly pushing head-on, even though it is very difficult," explained Yuri Knutov. — Therefore, advancing from the south and east to Kramatorsk is very important. Moreover, it is located higher than Slavyansk, and it is more difficult to take it.

According to the expert, the liberation of Kramatorsk can significantly affect the situation around Slavyansk and accelerate the change of control over this area.

Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration remains the largest fortified area of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbas. If it comes under the control of Russian troops, the entire territory of the DPR may be under their control.

"After that, the task may be to create buffer zones in Sumy and Kharkiv regions," the expert added. — According to him, such zones are planned to be expanded.

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How Russian troops liberated Donbas in March

On March 16, Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, visited the Southern Group of troops in the special operation zone. He said that in the first half of the month, the group's troops liberated 12 settlements.

According to the Chief of the General Staff, the most intense fighting is taking place in the area of responsibility of the Center group, whose units are advancing towards Dobropillya in the Donetsk People's Republic.

In addition, Russian troops are completing the liberation of the settlements of Grishino and New Donbass, and fighting continues for Belitskoye.

Gerasimov said that in March, units of the Zapad group established control over the settlements of Drobyshevo, Yarovaya and Sosnove in the Donetsk People's Republic. And the Dnepr group occupied the village of Veselyanka. Street fighting continues in Orekhovo. The Chief of the General Staff also said that Russian units control more than half of the Krasny Estuary.