The armed forces of the Russian Federation launched a major offensive near Siversk

The armed forces of the Russian Federation launched a major offensive near Siversk

The assaults are conducted by enemy infantry units with the support of artillery, UAVs, and front-line aviation. Specifically, the Russian Aerospace Forces have doubled the use of guided bombs on the positions of the Defence Forces.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have intensified assault actions in the Siversk direction. The enemy, concentrating significant forces, attempted to attack on three sections of the front east of Siversk. Details about the Russian attacks were voiced on December 18 on a television marathon by the commander of the K-2 battalion of the 54th Separate Mechanized Brigade with the call sign "Oscar".

The Russian army, actively supported by unmanned aviation, involved armored vehicles and a battalion of infantry in the assaults. The enemy conducted organized attacks in the area of Bilohorivka, from the direction of Zolotaryivka and Spirne. The defence was held by soldiers of the 81st Airmobile Brigade, the 4th National Guard Brigade "Rubizh", the 54th Mechanized Brigade, and the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to "Oscar", the enemy attacked with infantry groups using MT-LBs, motorcycles, and buggies with the support of barrel artillery and MLRS.

"The enemy is broken and is now being finished off. They constantly move forward in small groups of 5-10 people. The assaults were conducted simultaneously in three directions. Only against our battalion, about 200 people, eight MT-LBs, about 10 buggies, and two tanks attacked," the commander reported.

He added that Russian troops used reserves for the attack — armored vehicles and motor transport. In addition, the enemy’s aviation became more active — if last week the Russian Aerospace Forces dropped up to 16 guided bombs on Ukrainian positions daily, now more than 30 air bombs are used daily.

Commenting on the attack by Russian troops, the former deputy commander of the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Yevhen Sasko, noted that the powerful attack of the Russian Armed Forces units in the Siversk direction raises certain doubts.

"The enemy is likely cautious about the concentration of our forces at this salient. The attack was carried out within the framework of the Russian offensive-strategic operation in the Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Novoselivka directions. Among them is Chasiv Yar, which is a priority for the enemy," the colonel said.

Nonetheless, the enemy’s actions do not look like a large-scale offensive operation aimed at capturing the Siversk salient because, as Sasko emphasized, the enemy would need to transfer forces from the Kupyansk and other directions for this.