The Russian military operation in Ukraine is witnessing another day of intense battles, as the Russian army attempts to establish full control over the liberated areas, while Ukrainian forces resist with military support from the West. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced today, Wednesday, that units of the Russian armed forces, consisting of six combat groups, have taken control of part of the industrial zone along the Kupiansk axis. The defense ministry stated in a message via their Telegram channel: "On the Kupiansk axis, units from the sixth army of the joint forces, consisting of six combat groups, have taken control of part of the industrial zone by the end of the day and seized three warehouses." The defense ministry pointed out that mechanized infantry units revealed and destroyed an enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group from the 14th mechanized brigade in the town of Sinkovka (in the Kupiansk area of Kharkiv province) and also thwarted two attempts to transfer reserves.
Previously, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that senior Ukrainian military leaders prefer to defend the sector that includes the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and inflict the maximum possible losses on Russian forces. In his nightly address, Zelensky said: "The primary focus was on... Bakhmut," adding: "There was a clear stance from the entire leadership to reinforce this sector and destroy the occupiers as much as possible." The Ukrainian president had declared that the future of his country depends on the outcome of the ongoing battles in the east, including the fighting in and around Bakhmut, as both sides speak of brutal combat in the small eastern city while Russia intensifies its winter campaign to seize it. Zelensky stated: "The situation is very difficult in the east... very painful. We must destroy the enemy's military power, and we will destroy it."
