The Zvizdets Mangustu [Mongoose (operation) is fucked up] Telegram channel: by Colonel Kostyantyn Mashovets, Ukrainian military analyst and Information Resistance Monitoring Group coordinator, expert on defense planning, use of troops and development of the AFU ‼️Overview ▶️ Sloviansk direction The enemy (Russian forces), utilizing the 3rd Combined Arms Army (CAA) from the Group of Troops (GT) "South," is attempting to continue offensive operations in this direction as part of the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk operational-strategic offensive. Their goal is to advance the main bodies of their forward units to the immediate approaches of Sloviansk from the east and southeast, while simultaneously advancing a portion of their forces toward Kramatorsk from the east (aiming, at a minimum, to reach the Vasylivska Pustosh–Vasiutynske line). These efforts are concentrated primarily along two operational-tactical directions: Siversk–Sloviansk (along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River) and Bakhmut–Sloviansk (flanking the E-40 highway between Sloviansk and Bakhmut); additionally, a portion of their forces is operating along the Minkivka–Kramatorsk direction. 1️⃣ During the reporting period, the enemy launched a series of attacks and assaults in specific sectors along these directions but failed to achieve significant gains. Moreover, evidently, the AFU launched counterattacks in at least two sectors of the Sloviansk direction. While these actions did not bring the Russian offensive within the 3rd CAA’s zone of operations to a complete halt, they significantly slowed its momentum. Specifically: – In the directions of Kryva Luka–Starodubivka, Kalenyky–Mykolaivka, and Rai-Oleksandrivka–Mykolaivka, the enemy demonstrated considerable activity within the tactical zone, attempting to gain full control over Starodubivka and Pyskunivka, as well as to push the maximum number of assault infantry troops toward both the Sloviansk Thermal Power Plant (TPP) [48.87194, 37.76471] and the northern part of Mykolaivka. Furthermore, the enemy evidently sought to achieve this through persistent "infiltration" maneuvers into Mykolaivka from the directions of both Rai-Oleksandrivka and Kalenyky. However, as of yesterday evening, the main bodies of the enemy's forward units remained positioned along the line stretching from Kryva Luka to the northeastern outskirts of Rai-Oleksandrivka; nevertheless, the Russian command did manage to infiltrate at least three of its assault groups into Ukrainian combat formations—reaching a certain tactical depth—along the general direction of Rai-Oleksandrivka–Sloviansk TPP. The largest of these groups was detected between Starodubivka and Pyskunivka, while two smaller groups were spotted in Mykolaivka (one is concealed in the eastern section—between Myru Street and the vehicle garages, near the Halenika pharmacy [48.851843, 37.784695]—and the second, even smaller group, is located on the southern outskirts, near Kozatska Street [48.839766, 37.777489]). Furthermore, small Russian infantry (assault) groups are present to a significant extent within the "Kreidova Flora" Nature Reserve [48.872416, 37.883025]—specifically in the wooded area southeast of Mykolaivka (which they utilize heavily for constant "infiltration raids" into the town itself)—as well as in the 4-kilometer strip between Yurkivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka. However, it is worth noting in this context that frontline Ukrainian units in this sector have managed to retain control over Mykolaivka itself and prevent small enemy infantry groups from penetrating the area of the Sloviansk TPP. They also continue to hold positions near Rai-Oleksandrivka and even south of Yurkivka (along the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas Canal). Notably, forward Ukrainian positions in this area extend as far east as Lypivka (located slightly northwest of Nykyforivka, along the Vasiukivka River). 🇺🇦Subscribe to the channel