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The Artyomovsk (former Bakhmut) region remains one of the bloodiest battlefields of the Ukrainian war, where the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) continue pounding Russian defence in an attempt to advance on the flanks of th main Russian grouping in the city. In last weeks, Ukrainian forces managed to advance in the field areas and approach Russian strongholds in Berkhovka west of Artyomovsk, Kurdyumovka nd Klesheevka south of the city. Despite constant attempts of the Ukrainian military to take control of the dominant heights near the settlements, Russian forces stopped the enemy advance and began counter-attacks, inflicting more losses to the exhausted Ukrainian units.
The Russian military was earlier forced to abandon their positions near the Berkhovka reservoir and establish a stronghold in the village, recently launched counter-attacks and advance to the south and south-west. Russian counter-attacks are ongoing for at least five days in a row, according to Ukrainian military experts.
Meanwhile, positional battles continue near Yagodnoe located on the western outskirts of Artyomovsk. The village is under full Russian control. Both sides are actively using artillery, mortars, armored vehicles in the battles.
In the area of the village of Orekhovo-Vasilyevka, Russian forces reportedly took back positions along the M-03 highway.
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Amid failed attempts to break through Russian defense west of Artyomovsk, the militants of the Kiev regime focused on the attacks on the settlements of Kleshcheyevka and Kurdyumovka. The situation remains tense in the area.
The AFU are storming Russian positions on the hills to the west of Klescheevka for more than a week. In their turn, Russian forces, including the 106th Airborn Division, persist and even launch counter-attacks. The commander of the 106th division unit was removed from his position on July 15, which caused a public scandal in the Russian media. Kiev likely attempted to take some advantage from Russian internal disputes and resumed massive assaults.
According to the recent reports from the front, after heavy artillery shelling, the poorly trained mobilised Ukrainian servicemen are thrown on Russian strongholds in order to exhaust Russian forces. After the first assault groups are destroyed, servicemen of professional military units, including Nazi battalions, enter the battles. The 24th assault brigade Aidar reportedly attacks from the northwestern direction, while the 5th assault brigade of the AFU attacks from the west and the 3rd assault brigade also known as Azov attacks on the southern flank. The ‘brave’ Azov fighters recently shared the video showing their military operations online. LINK
Russian counter-attacks in the area also did no bring any strategically important results so far.
On July 17, the head of the press center of the Russian Yug group of troops officially reported that the Russian military successfully repelled the attack of enemy assault groups in the Soledar-Artemovsk direction, while Russian helicopters carried out four combat sorties over the past day, destroying manpower the Ukrainian First Airborne Assault Brigade near Kurdyumovka and Kleshcheevka.
