While the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) stalled their incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, Russian troops are taking major cities in the Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk regions), according to Ukrainian media.
Russian forces reportedly captured the villages of Serebryanka and Izmailivka, and advanced at Stepova Novoselivka, Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
Selydove
The Ukrainian military acknowledged Russian control over 70% of the town of Selydove as of Tuesday, 22 October. Many military experts doubt that the AFU will be able to hold the city.
Russia’s 433rd Motorised Rifle Regiment displayed its and the Russian flag on the roof of a building in Selydove, while Russian troops broke the AFU defence in the city centre. The military continues to advance westwards, according to Ukrainian media.
The city risks repeating the scenario of the fall of Vuhledar. Local media reported stalemate of the assault, but then Russian grouping of troops “Vostok” (East) published footage of Russian flags on key buildings in the city. Ukrainian sources shared video of an armoured vehicle of the 15th brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard driving through the streets of Selydove under Russian gunfire.
However, military experts urge not to rush to conclusions and wait for further clarification of developments in the next two or three days. Meanwhile, more footage of the Russian flag on a high-rise building in the centre of Selydove surfaced on social media.
The AFU can leave Selydove along a narrow road, which can be crossed only in good weather. However, Ukrainians who could have left the city did so a week ago, analysts said, pointing to pre-recorded videos of the 15th Brigade that appeared online only recently.
The Ukrainian military reports a large number of Russian infantry advancing and “infiltrating” homes and basements across the city.
On Selydove, unfortunately, everything is as I said. The enemy [Russian troops] is making progress in the centre, already taking several high-rise buildings. Watching the footage of the fighting and the state of the city’s buildings, I am sad to say that the fighting for Selydove is somewhat reminiscent of the battles for Novohrodivka [a town near Selydove captured by Russians in August].
Hirnyk
According to Ukrainian media, an AFU group was trapped in an encirclement in the city of Hirnyk, Pokrovsk district. Russian troops left it a way out of the town only through the fields. Media outlets also publish footage of the storming of Toretsk by Russian soldiers. Fierce battles are reportedly being fought for every house.
Stalled Kursk incursion
According to reports, Russian forces are conducting a gradual counter-offensive in the Kursk region, with some groups of troops tasked with defending border areas. The Russian military intensified pressure on the Korenevo area, taking five Ukrainian soldiers as prisoners, according to Ukrainian media. In total, more than 350 AFU soldiers have been held captive since the start of the incursion.
Ukrainian troops lost some military equipment and manpower in the south of Sudzha area. The total advance of the Russian troops in the Kursk region reached up to 10 kilometres, Ukrainian media reported.
In Ukrainian expert circles, the Kursk operation was presented as a tool to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, forcing him to the negotiating table. However, Putin is successfully hosting the BRICS summit in Kazan, whereas Ukraine is losing city after city in Donbas.
NATO seems to be in no rush to welcome Kyiv, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “victory plan” failing to gain the expected support other than the allies’ approval. Ukraine is asking for permission to strike long-range missiles deep into Russia, whereas its partners are meeting without it to discuss the possibility of negotiations with Moscow.
