Ukraine's Forces advance up to 7 km on Dobropillia, encircle Russian units – Army chief
Photo: Syrskyi held a meeting regarding situation near Dobropillia (facebook.com/CinCAFofUkraine)
In the Dobropillia direction, Ukrainian forces have achieved successes and have surrounded part of the enemy’s units, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi.
"I devoted another day to working in the units operating in the main directions of the front, including in the Dobropillia direction," he reported.
In particular, he held a meeting with the commanders of units and subdivisions involved in the counteroffensive operation. Thanks to the clearly planned and bold actions of our troops, part of the enemy’s units found themselves surrounded.
According to Syrskyi, the total losses of the occupiers in this direction amount to 3,185 persons, of which 1,769 are irretrievable. The invaders also lost 969 pieces of weapons and military equipment. The area of liberated territory since the beginning of the counteroffensive operation has reached about 175 sq. km, with almost another 195 sq. km cleared of sabotage groups.
"Taking into account the reports of commanders on the ground, I defined tasks and gave the necessary instructions to increase the effectiveness of fire damage to the enemy, in particular at long distances; neutralize enemy sabotage groups in designated areas; improve the quality of interaction between units," the Commander-in-Chief noted.
He also made the necessary decisions to provide the units and subdivisions participating in combat operations with due regard for the deterioration of weather conditions.
Situation near Dobropillia
Earlier, Syrskyi reported that the advance deep into the Russian defenses in the Dobropillia direction amounts to from 3 to 7 km. During the counteroffensive in this direction, Ukrainian troops managed to liberate seven settlements along the front.
As of September 21, the Armed Forces of Ukraine regained control over 1.3 square kilometers and conducted a search and destroyed the enemy on 2.1 square kilometers of the Pokrovsk district in the Donetsk region.
Also, according to Syrskyi, the enemy applied in the Dobropillia direction and is using in the Novopavlivka direction the so-called "thousand cuts" tactic.
It consists of the simultaneous use of a large number of small assault groups—4–6 servicemen—who advance using the terrain, ravines, plantations, with the main task of penetrating as deeply as possible into our territory.
