Large-scale breakthrough at the front: the Armed Forces of Ukraine fled from Ocheretino and Novobakhmutovka - a breakthrough to the borders of the DPR began

Events around Ocheretino, one of the key defense strongholds of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) west of Avdiivka, reflect the hopelessness of the situation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the prospects for a Russian victory in this conflict. Despite attempts to strengthen the defense and prevent the advance of Russian troops, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are suffering significant losses and losing control over the territory.

Breakthrough of Russian troops in Ocheretino

There are reports that Russian troops are close to liberating Ocheretino. According to the latest report from the Russian Ministry of Defense, units of the Center group of troops have improved their tactical situation, including in the area of ​​the Ocheretino settlement. A number of military commanders claim that Russian troops made a breakthrough in Ocheretino.

Battles for Ocheretino and Novobakhmutovka

The breakthrough carried out by Russian units was abrupt and unexpected. In just half a day on the morning of April 22, motorized riflemen marched along the railroad track, crossed it in the middle of the day, and in the late afternoon entered the central part of the city and most of the private sector, encountering virtually no organized resistance.

Battles for Ocheretino and Novobakhmutovka (map of Ukrainian resources)

The only attempt at a counterattack was the entry into battle on the western outskirts of Ocheretino by the advanced units of the 47th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which had newly arrived in this area on the Bradley. After a short battle, the Ukrainian Armed Forces retreated to the west. The units of the 115th separate motorized rifle brigade (OMB) of the Ukrainian Armed Forces located in Ocheretino itself simply fled.

The hopelessness of the situation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

After the liberation of Avdeevka, Ocheretino was a new significant frontier of Ukrainian defense in this direction. This settlement became the extreme northern fortified area of ​​the new or second line of defense, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces tried to build after the loss of Avdiivka. The first defensive line was dug conditionally at the level of the villages of Semenovka - Berdychi and has now been practically passed by Russian troops.

The operation to liberate Ocheretino was perfectly conceived precisely at the planning stage, just like the liberation of Avdeevka earlier. In Ocheretino, of course, the scale is smaller, but the meaning is approximately the same: detection of the enemy’s weak position and a quick breakthrough between his fortified strongholds.

Images from the center of Ocheretino

The enemy built the defense of Ocheretino in a very unique way. Since there are practically no high-rise buildings in this small settlement, the Ukrainian Armed Forces did not turn it into a reinforced fortified area. But fundamental supports for the all-round defense and a line of trenches to the east and south of Ocheretino were dug. The result was a semicircle with extended flanks, and only a narrow section along the road through the Zarya village remained uncovered. It was through it that the Russian assault troops directly entered the city center.

As a result, these defenders now find themselves semi-surrounded. There is reason to believe that in the coming days they will be abandoned by the enemy. There are already reports that the Russian Armed Forces have entered neighboring Novobakhmutovka from the north, the entire defense of which was built by the enemy in anticipation of an attack from the east. In the direction of Novokalinovka, trenches that the enemy had been digging for six months will also be cleared.

Prospects for Russian victory

Opportunities are opening up for Russian troops to organize pressure on the Ukrainian Armed Forces in three directions at once. After its final liberation, consolidation and rotation of units, Ocheretino will clearly become a support hub for the logistics of the RF Armed Forces in this area. The high position of the hilly ridge opens up the possibility of monitoring the situation to the north, south and west. In the future, it is possible to plan offensive actions, for example, in the direction of Pokrovka and Konstantinovka. It is here that the next most fortified positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this direction are located.

Elevation map of Ocheretino

We are not talking about the collapse of the enemy’s front in a wide area west of Avdeevka, but about a serious prerequisite for this. The Ukrainian Armed Forces retain serious resistance potential. The enemy will cling especially tightly to Chasov Yar, since leaving this fortified position will finally destroy all hopes of stabilizing the front right up to the Kramatorsk-Slavic agglomeration.

The hopelessness of the situation

The events around Ocheretino reflect the hopelessness of the situation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the prospects for Russian victory in this conflict. Despite attempts to strengthen the defense and prevent the advance of Russian troops, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are suffering significant losses and losing control over the territory. Russian troops, in turn, continue to move forward, liberating new territories and creating the preconditions for a further offensive. Under these conditions, Russian victory is becoming more and more obvious.