An update from the Ukrainian military expert Oleg Zhdanov for 11th September 2022. Provided by Atis: https://twitter.com/savaadaak
Enemy goals have not changed, they continue attempts to take control of the Donetsk district, making attacks every day. The enemy also attempts to hold occupied territories in Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv districts.
They do aerial recon, attempting to increase the tactical situation, mostly in Donetsk’s direction. Attempts to solve logistics issues in Kherson direction by using boats and pontoon ferries, which are regularly bombed by Ukraine. The enemy is bombing positions of Ukraine’s armed forces at the whole length of the front line.
The risk of missile and air strikes remains in the whole territory of Ukraine. Today started with air sirens in almost all territory of Ukraine due to the launch of X-101 missiles from the Caspian sea area. In the last 24h enemy made 16 missile attacks and 34 aviation attacks on 28 settlements. Right now Russia will want to take revenge with any means, missile attacks are the only means they have.
Volyn-Polesye (Belarus – North)
The situation has not significantly changed. Belarus continues exercises Zapad-2022 with only Belarus and Russia participating, no other CSTO country. Ukraine continues to exercises North-Storm-2022 in response.
Northern direction (Sumy)
Shelling from Russia’s Kursk and Briansk districts.
All front-line:
Shelling of Ukraine army positions on all front-line, exchange of artillery and aviation attacks from both sides.
Kharkiv direction
The number of actions can be classified as a counter-offensive, and it’s beyond the Operational level. The enemy is taking losses – Enemy units from the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Joint Arms Army were left without means of support, and the personnel was in a panicked mood. Also, it is known about numerous sanitary losses of the enemy in the indicated direction. During the previous day, more than 75 wounded Russian soldiers were brought to the village of Valuyka in the Belgorod region, while more than a hundred occupiers were evacuated from Belgorod to Moscow.
Due to significant losses in manpower, the Russian invaders plan to carry out the so-called “mobilization” of the male population in the temporarily captured territories. Now men are forbidden to leave settlements. However, they can only mobilize those, who have accepted Russian passports.
In response to the successful actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russian invaders are carrying out “countermeasures”. In populated areas, in the temporarily captured territories of Kharkiv and Kherson regions, the occupiers are strengthening the administrative and police regime, entry and exit from populated areas is prohibited, and a curfew has been introduced. In Kherson, a search was made of the residential premises of the Skhidniy district, from which the Antonivskyi bridge can be seen. Apparently, they suspect somebody correcting Ukraine’s missiles. Local residents of Kakhovka and Kozatskyi were warned by the Russian military to open fire on them if they approached the crossings over Dnipro.
This signifies, that Russia is very afraid of partisan movements and is getting desperate. Partisans provided significant assistance to Ukraine’s armed forces in the Kharkiv offensive. Russian reserves did not even reach front line, they were partially or completely destroyed by artillery and aviation.
Ukraine Defense Forces repelled enemy attacks in the areas of Sosnivka, Mayorsk, Mykolaivka Druha, Zaitseve, Vesela Dolyna, Soledar, Bakhmut, Pisky, Pervomaiske and Novomykhailivka settlements.
Most motivated enemy forces are from private military, they don’t flee, as they get paid for fighting. The regular army is not ready to die for Ukraine’s land.
Donetsk direction:
Fierce battles, enemy increasing attacks, trying to compensate for the loss of Izium, trying to reach Bakhmut, and later on Sloviansk-Kramatorsk. Unlikely they will succeed, expecting a radical change of situation in advantage to Ukraine.
The de-occupation of Ukraine continues. In general, in recent days, about 2000km² of Ukrainian territory has been freed from Russian occupation. Our units entered Kupyansk, the liberation of settlements of Kupyansk and Izium districts of Kharkiv districts continues.
During the day, to support the actions of the land groupings, the aviation of the Defense Forces carried out 23 strikes, during which four anti-aircraft missile systems were destroyed, four strongholds, and fifteen places where the enemy’s manpower and equipment were concentrated were hit.
Russian sources are highlighting excellent coordination between Ukraine artillery, aviation and infantry. In addition, our air defense units destroyed two aircraft (Su-25 and Su-34), one Ka-52 helicopter, two UAVs and one guided air missile.
Missile troops and artillery of land groupings continue to perform tasks of counter-battery combat, fire damage to manpower and combat equipment, disruption of the enemy’s command and control system and logistical support. Attacks on enemy warehouses in Melitopol, Nova Kahovka, Gorlivka, Donetsk and many more locations, as soon as they are discovered.
As a result of the fire impact, two control points of unmanned aircraft. Now enemy won’t be able to use their drones for recon. Additionally, strongholds, accumulation of weapons and military equipment of the enemy in the areas of concentration were hit during the day. A pontoon crossing and enemy watercraft with military equipment on them also fell into the affected area.
Zaporizhye direction:
Situation stable, positional warfare. No active actions from either side.
From unofficial public information, it appears that the scale of the UAF counter-offensive is much larger.
Report of 37 Russian soldiers attempting to negotiate for their retreat out of Valuyka.
Head of Ukraine Luhansk military district administration hints to expect changes near Sievierodonetsk-Lysychansk.
Ukraine officials ask to not attempt to create fake information to disorient Russian military intelligence. Ukraine’s military is able to create its own distractions.
To summarize: Ukraine is on the offensive, it has the power and resources to continue. Russian general staff also has capable intelligence, and they will attempt to create a new temporary defense line. Unknown, if there will be enough will and power to gather fleeing forces. Until then, Ukraine will continue counter-offensive, expanding success in all directions.
Yuzhniy Bug (Kherson) direction
Not behind Kharkiv direction, Ukraine keeps doing methodical attacks using indirect weapons, while advancing. Confirmed liberation of Aleksandrivka, approaching Kherson from opposing sides, soon it might become encircled.
Other
- Confirmed letter from Russia MoD to MoF, requesting payments for deaths equaling 50 000 soldiers. Additionally, the letter contains an expectation of up to 8000 deaths per month.
- Russia MoD explained the defeat of Izium and Kupyansk as “regrouping”. Russia lost territories that they captured during 5 months in just 4 days.
- Russian information sphere also is chaotic, serious Russian propagandists, previously calling for the elimination of the Ukrainian language, now calling for “Being together and remembering the past”.
- Russia called for a meeting of the UN Security Council, requesting Ukraine to return “illegally captured” tanks, artillery, APCs, missile systems, radars and ammo. All this equipment is legally trophies and will be used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- Captured Russian solder in an interview reveals that their tank was not able to fire, while other tanks in their unit can fire, but can not move.
- Parts of the Russian 3rd army corps that attempted to assist fleeing Kupyansk forces were destroyed and did flee while leaving equipment.