FRONTLINE UPDATE 5/6 DECEMBER
NORTH
Russians have sustained attacks around Kupiansk. The level of combat has increased markedly. There are indications that Russian rockets fired from Grads have range issues - possibly ammunition defects. The Russians have been suffering from similar with artillery - barrel wear and poor ammunition are said to be rife.
Russia claims to be in control of half of Synkivka but this can’t be confirmed.
BAKHMUT
Heavy fighting and Russian advances in the Bohdamivka area have continued, with advances towards Kromove. This is a seriously unwelcome situation for Ukraine because of the high ground they are loosing and Russia gaining.
North of Klieshievka Russians have regained more territory and around the high ground that controls the ruins of the village. The Russians persist trying to take the high ground and appear to be succeeding. It’s looking slowly more and more likely that Klieshievka is in danger.
HORLIVKA
Russia has driven the Ukrainians out of the areas captured two weeks ago.
AVDIVKA
Russians have forced a successful assault against the Ukrainian defences overlooking the north of the Coking plant and appear to have gained ground. They took control over some of the forest near the coking plant to its north east.
Russia used an automated ground assault vehicle but it was destroyed.
Opposite Krasnohirivka heavily fighting is reported in Stepove and the Russians may have been pushed back.
The Russians are now on the edge of the coking plant. How Russia plans on taking it is yet to be revealed.
In the central and southern parts of the front the Russians creep slowly forward.
ROBOTYNE
The Russians appear to on the offensive against the salient but at the cost of heavy losses.
KRYNKY
Russians claim that Ukraine has suppressed the Russian air defence so well, the TB2 drones have reappeared and they’re notoriously vulnerable, with a reputation they don’t really deserve gained early in the war and since proved to be largely propaganda. The fact they can fly undisputed says a great deal.
Otherwise heavy fighting persists.
Other news…
The Mayor of Kyiv, Vladimir Klytchko launched a scathing attack on President Zelensky saying he had become authoritarian.
However he doesn’t want him to leave office until the war is over. The move is one that puts him in the position to mount a presidential challenge when elections eventually happen as they will.
Trust polling, asking who do you trust the most in Ukraine put the president at just 32% with the CinC of the armed forces, General Zaluzhny at 70%. The mayor has also come under fire for not properly maintaining the Kyiv bomb shelters so is in many ways distracting from his own alleged failings.
While it’s sad to see disunity it’s also clearly showing that the drive for democracy and real politics after the war is alive and well. Personally I wouldn’t be surprised if Zelensky just called it quits post war and went off for a well earned rest with his family. If this was Russia these discussions wouldn’t even have been possible.