The frontlines in Russia's special military operation in Ukraine have barely shifted in 2023, despite a massively publicized Ukrainian counteroffensive earlier this year. (Related: Russia inflicting HEAVY DAMAGE against Ukrainian Air Force using innovative long-range air-to-air missile.)
But fighting in the country has remained intense, and now Russian sources are reporting that the Russian Armed Forces have advanced into "more favorable positions."
"Our servicemen are acting competently and decisively, occupying a more favorable position and expanding their zones of control in all directions," said Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu on Friday during a briefing with top Russian military personnel.
Shoigu added that Russian forces in Ukraine are "effectively and firmly inflicting fire damage on the Ukrainian Armed Forces," and noted that Ukraine's combat capabilities were "significantly reduced" following its counteroffensive earlier this year.
Ukraine's counteroffensive launched in June after months of highly publicized preparations has stalled in Ukraine's southern and southeastern fronts without significant progress. This is despite massive shipments of Western weapons and training by Western advisors for Ukrainian troops. Hopes for a breakthrough are fading as winter draws near, making significant military movements problematic.
To support Russian gains, President Vladimir Putin issued a decree to boost troop numbers by as much as 15 percent, or around 170,000 new soldiers.
"The increase in the full-time strength of the army is due to growing threats to our country linked with the special military operation and the continuing expansion of NATO [the North Atlantic Treaty Organization]," said the armed forces in a statement warning of recent "aggressive activity" from the NATO bloc.
Russia still controls over 20% of Ukraine
Russian military operations in internationally recognized Ukraine have also intensified in recent days thanks to improving weather conditions. Ukrainian officials have warned that Russian forces are once again stepping up drone strikes against Ukrainian targets.
Russia retains control over nearly 20 percent of territory internationally recognized to be part of Ukraine, with independent analysts noting that Russia has made "incremental gains."
The Kremlin has recently announced that it had taken control of the small village of Khromove on the outskirts of Bakhmut in northern Donetsk, known to Moscow by its Russian name of Artyomovskoe. Russian forces are also reportedly close to fully encircling the industrial town of Avdiivka in Donetsk, where Ukraine claims it is currently fending off Russian assaults.
"Our defenders are steadfastly holding the line in the Avdiivka sector," said Ukrainian Army commander Oleksandr Tarnavskyi in his most recent update, which noted that Russian forces have "considerably increased" their activity in the area.
Before the current special military operation, Avdiivka was home to around 30,000 people. It has been on the frontline since the civil conflict in Ukraine began in 2014, when it briefly fell to the hands of pro-Russian separatists before being retaken by Ukrainian forces that same year.
Russia is interested in taking control of Avdiivka as the town is seen as a gateway to the Russian-held regional capital of Donetsk, which is just 12 miles to the east of Avdiivka.
Learn more about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine at UkraineWitness.com.
Watch this clip from SouthFront Press reporting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledging his country's defeat as the Ukrainian Army goes on the defensive.
This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.
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