Russia’s Seversk Breakthrough: New Advances Across the Frontline
Putin reviews Russia’s gains, from securing Seversk to advances in Kharkov, Donetsk and Zaporozhye regions, as commanders outline new opportunities for offensive action.
On December 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting focused on developments in the zone of the special military operation in Ukraine. The discussion, conducted via videoconference, included Chief of the General Staff Valeriy Gerasimov and other senior military commanders.
Gerasimov reported significant advances by Russian forces in the Kharkov Region and in the Donetsk People’s Republic, where the city of Seversk had been taken. He said the capture of Seversk creates conditions favorable for a continued offensive toward Slavyansk.
His briefing also covered active fighting east of Kupyansk in the Kharkov Region. There, Russian troops secured the settlements of Kucherovka and Kurilovka on the eastern bank of the Oskol River.
Units of the «South» grouping continued their assault on Stepanovka and nearby Konstantinovka, with Russian forces now controlling about 45 percent of the latter’s buildings.
In Mirnograd, Russian troops took control of the entire southern section, while fierce clashes persisted in the central and northern parts of the settlement. Battles were also ongoing for Novopavlovka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region and for Gulyaypole in the Zaporozhye Region.
Gerasimov noted that forces of the «East» grouping had crossed the Gaichuk River at several points and were pushing deeper into southern Dnepropetrovsk and the eastern sector of the Zaporozhye Region. Street fighting continued inside Gulyaypole.
In the north, he said, the «North» grouping was focused on expanding the security zone within the Sumy and Kharkov regions. Meanwhile, the «West» grouping was engaged in operations aimed at defeating encircled Ukrainian units on the left bank of the Oskol River.
After the briefing, Putin congratulated Russian forces on the capture of Seversk and highlighted progress on all fronts. He asserted that strategic initiative remains with the Russian army and remarked that Kiev had expected Russian units to become bogged down in Seversk, which did not occur. He added that the success in this sector brings new offensive opportunities elsewhere.
Putin also stated that the creation of a security buffer zone in Ukraine’s border regions is proceeding according to plan.