Ukraine update...
Kherson bridge head remains under OPSEC rules. Ukrainian forces are still massed on the northern end of the bridge head and seem content to slowly grind away at the Russian positions as those slowly melt away. Russians declared that the civilian "evacuation" of the bridge head area is over. Probably because the Ukrainians are well within 155mm artillery range of the non-functional bridges and are shelling the temporary barge bridge and ferry landings with impunity.
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Russian reinforcements into the bridge head area remain a combination of fresh conscripts and Chechens, both in small numbers.
The Russians did run a couple of fuel pipelines across the broken railway bridge, but then helpfully showed a video of them. Those pipelines are now kaput.
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On the southern front the pattern of small probes and artillery duels continues with neither side having the manpower to do a real offensive. I expect that to change in Ukrainian favor at some point.
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On the eastern front Donbas is still more of the same. The Russians sending DNR conscripts up against well dug in Ukrainian positions and getting massacred for no gains.
Ukrainian 93rd Mech Brigade (tank division) remains in this area, just north of Bahkmut and refusing to bend.
Further north Ukr is still slowly enveloping Svatove and has troops across the north/south highway above and below that town.
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From Svatove north the Russians are slowly pulling out what remains of the BAR reserve units and conscript formations and replacing them with elements of 1st Guards Tank Army, which has been rebuilt for the fourth or fifth time (I've lost count).
We know this because as DefMon reports, the Ukrainians claimed some 36 tanks destroyed in this area in the last 48hrs (with video to back up much of that). At least some of those tanks were brand new T-90's.
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@Render
I'm thinking that Ukr could face an ethical situation at those bridges: blow the bridges up and wait for surrender, or systematically blow up the mass of troops crowded at these pinch points. Fish in a barrel opportunity.
@jurban If it were me, I'd blow up those bridges and every other possible crossing points.
But that's just me...
@jurban I'm not sure and I'm also not sure if the Russians themselves know for sure at this point.
My best guess is 11 or 12 battalions worth, at best. And most if not all of those under strength.
How they collapse those across those across those two bridges (both still usable for foot traffic) and the barge bridge plus ferries without it turning into a complete every man for himself rout is anybody's guess.