25 Jul: Unleash the Kraken: Major Russian Base set Ablaze by HIMARS and Partisans from Chasiv Yar - Reporting from UKR

Today there are a lot of updates from the Bakhmut direction.

The most interesting updates come from the northern flank of Chasiv Yar. Here, Ukrainian guerilla attacks are hampering Russian offensive efforts while HIMARS strikes are launched against the Russian rear, complicating their logistics and organization. Meanwhile, despite all the difficulties, Russians are trying to expand their control zone around Kalinivka to set the ground for an assault across the canal towards Chasiv Yar.

The Russians use a well-developed railway network across the Donbas to provide logistical support, transporting equipment and supplies to forces across the front. However, the extensive and widespread nature of this railway network makes it challenging for the Russians to protect it effectively from potential attacks.

For this reason, Ukrainian guerillas from the underground groups, operating in Russian-controlled Donbas since twenty-fourteen, are working towards disrupting such important logistical routes in cooperation with Ukrainian Military Intelligence. In a video released by Ukrainian guerillas, they unexpectedly destroyed a railway relay box near Almazna in the Luhansk region. This act of sabotage disrupted train traffic, significantly slowing down and delaying Russian logistics. The resulting chaos led to severe shortages of ammunition. The original, uncensored combat footage of all operations can be found on our Telegram channel through the link in the description.

This incident occurred on the crucial Debaltsevo-Kadiivka route, which holds significant strategic importance for the Russians. In Kadiivka, Russian military equipment and supplies are unloaded and then transported by motor vehicles to Bakhmut, located to the west. The guerrilla sabotage caused delays in logistics, which in turn slowed Russian advances in and around Chasiv Yar.

Coordination between Ukrainian military intelligence and guerillas has allowed for precise information relay to Ukrainian HIMARS operators, facilitating accurate strikes against critical Russian equipment and infrastructure. Ukrainian military intelligence reported successful hits on a Zhitel electronic warfare system near Novoluhansk and a Russian logistics center near Debaltseve, which was heavily stocked with ammunition and tanks.

The destruction of Zhitel electronic warfare systems is highly significant because these systems disrupt precision-guided munitions such as JDAMs and HIMARS, as well as drones. Their loss will allow Ukrainians to conduct more frequent strikes against the Russian rear and disrupt their logistics to the front lines. Consequently, Russian frontline units will face shortages of equipment and ammunition, forcing them to conserve their resources until they can restore their supply lines.

As a result, Russian assaults in Chasiv Yar have gradually slowed. The initial objective was to cross the canal at two key crossings to encircle the town. However, the Russian command has decided to focus on expanding their control on the eastern side of the canal, extending their efforts to the north.

In Kalinivka, the Russians have chosen to advance northward with the goal of securing the village of Hryhorivka. Hryhorivka is strategically important because it could provide the Ukrainians with a launch point for counterattacks if the Russians cross the canal and attempt to cut off Ukrainian forces. Additionally, a weakened logistics chain would make the Russians more vulnerable to flank attacks due to shortages of ammunition and equipment. Understanding this, the Russian command is focused on securing Hryhorivka to prevent potential flank attacks and maintain their strategic position.

To focus on this effort, the Russians had to abandon their plans to cross the canal near Kalinivka and redirect their advance toward Hryhorivka. The Ukrainian defense at Hryhorivka is not as fortified as in other parts of the Bakhmut direction, as additional forces for a flank attack have yet to be mobilized. Nevertheless, the Russian command prefers to avoid any risk. Recent attacks have allowed the Russians to advance by two kilometers toward Hryhorivka and seize control of the small farms in the eastern part of Kalinivka.

The expansion of Russian control over parts of the eastern bank of the canal will also enable them to accumulate more forces there for future attempts at crossing the canal...