09 Nov: Defenses SPREAD THIN. Ukrainians PIERCE THROUGH THE FLANK. | War in Ukraine Explained

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Today there are a lot of interesting updates from the Toretsk direction.

Here, after months of intense fighting, the Russians halted their assaults to reorganize and rest their forces from intense fighting that brought little to negative territorial gains. This came in time as Ukrainians deployed additional reinforcements to the Toretsk area, exploting a window of opportunity for significant counterattacks on Russian flanks.

Earlier, Russian forces lost key positions in Toretsk’s central high-rise area, prompting them to halt offensive actions and shift their focus to defense. However, the Russian command struggled to establish a defensive line in time, as their troops needed to regroup and recover before resuming any operations.

This situation compelled Russian command to prioritize deploying their remaining combat-ready forces to the most intense battle zones, specifically Toretsk’s central high-rises and the Zabalka district to the south. While this decision helped preserve Russian positions in these critical areas, it left gaps in the defenses of regions with lower recent activity. In Druzhba, where only skirmishes between reconnaissance groups had occurred, only a small Russian infantry group remained as most forces were concentrated in Toretsk’s key zones. Druzhba holds significant tactical value, offering Russians a potential staging ground for encircling Toretsk. The dense tree lines near an elevated railway embankment provide an effective route to bypass Ukrainian defenses and threaten a semi-encirclement from the north. Recognizing this, Ukrainian forces decided to exploit the weakened Russian defenses in Druzhba.

Before launching a decisive assault, Ukrainian forces deployed a large number of specialized drones modified for bombing attacks. Combat footage shows Ukrainian drone operators using heavy hexacopters to drop TM-62 anti-tank mines on Russian positions in Druzhba. These mines, carried by hexacopters, proved highly effective for destroying fortified positions, such as houses used by Russian troops. This tactic succeeded in demolishing most structures in Druzhba, forcing the Russians to rely on improvised defenses around a few trenches. Simultaneously, Ukrainian operators used regular drones to drop smaller high-explosive grenades on exposed Russian fighters in the ruined houses, finishing off any remaining resistance. These coordinated strikes overwhelmed the unprepared Russian garrison, inflicting severe losses.

With Russian positions severely weakened, Ukrainian forces launched a night assault to retake the northern part of Druzhba. Using the cover of darkness and dense tree lines, Ukrainian stormtroopers moved undetected, making this an ideal avenue for attack. Concealed in the treelines, the Ukrainian forces surprised the outnumbered Russian defenders, who could not spot them until they entered the town. The Russians, stationed in residential houses already devastated by Ukrainian artillery and drone strikes, had no solid positions for defense. Under the intensity of the Ukrainian counterattack and with insufficient defenses, Russian forces were forced to withdraw. This allowed the Ukrainians to successfully recapture the northern part of Druzhba, creating a new axis of advance to strain Russian reserves further.

Overall, the extension of Russian forces and their shortage of combat-ready troops led to the expansion of Ukrainian counterattacks and their territorial gains at the weakest points of Russian defense. These Ukrainian gains forced the Russians to deploy additional reserves to this section of the front, which is further stretching their defense thin. Reinforced pressure in tactically important Druzhba will fix a considerable number of Russian forces, which will make them lose additional positions in Toretsk, as they can't effectively defend this entire section of the frontline.

[RFU]

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[williamjacobs]

I'll sometimes remind the Russian enthusiasts in the comments section: "It's not what you can conquer. It's what you can keep." The USSR overran Afghanistan, but ended up with nothing. There's plenty of reason to think Ukraine will end up the same. It isn't even conquered yet, but Putin just keeps dreaming of empire while killing his country's sons and husbands. Is this what we're still being told is a "strong leader"?

[marlenfras]

Good reporting. Thank you. Strong Ukraine. Strong NATO. Strong Poland.

[rositasultana]

Thanks for your perseverance in informing the public about the developments on the front ❤solidarity from Romania 🇷🇴
Slava Ukraini!

[sharpisharp]

i never missed one video since i know your channel shortly after the beginning of the war. thank your for your focused reports.

[eeassa]

This channel puts together the best reports for the war in Ukraine!

[litlbit]

Thank you for the report. Interesting opportunity.

[midnightfish]

Thank you for your work. I obviously enjoy it more when it's a video like today's, but I always appreciate it. I'm so glad I found your channel - but the thought of how many Ukrainians have been killed, injured, bereaved or made homeless since then - while the most powerful country in the world *keeps screwing up * - is like a black hole in my heart. Слава ЗСУ

[LarsDcCase]

Keep up your work. I like that you don't drag on your narrations with news other than that pertaining to the war in Ukraine. 😀

[DannyMalcolm-vs]

Great Ukraine love Ukraine God bless you all

[KCMOReacts]

The huge Russian losses are having the expected effect. Lack of effective artillery as depots are destroyed and NK shells are relied upon, dedicating 50k+ troops to stopping the Kursk offensive, worse quality recruits, lack of vehicles, mud season logistics, , advancing in every direction at the same time; it has been unsustainable. A lot of focus has been on the immediate effects of the all-out effects and the land given up through the current tactics, but it has been bleeding Russia dry.

[williamgoss]

Great details on successful Ukrainian tactics. Excellent !!

[JoelHaggis]

The Ingenuity of all Ukrainians is amazing, in and out of combat.
I hope that the innocent victims that are debilitated can be both helped and possibly help the younger generation learn cooking and growing of the basic needs.
I hope that close knit communities can help everyone within.
Thinking of you all from Australia. 🫡☮️✨🇦🇺

[estherkisob]

Thanks for this upbeat report. Glory to Ukraine Ukraine. 🇺🇦

[barbaramassey]

Many thanks for all your excellent work. 😊😊😊

[linogomic]

This kind of military maneuvering is common in high-intensity conflicts, where both sides aim to disrupt and collapse the opponent's defensive systems by exploiting weaknesses and conducting surprise or sustained attacks. The Ukrainians' ability to pierce the Russian flank could shift momentum in their favor, allowing them to gain territory or create openings for further operations.
This situation also suggests that the battle lines are fluid, with both sides constantly adapting tactics in response to the evolving military environment. In broader terms, this kind of development may be part of a larger Ukrainian strategy to create pressure on Russian forces and potentially force a reorganization or retreat in key areas...

[AreaMan-etop]

Russian Orcs recruiting North Korean Goblins shows how thin their manpower is getting.

[stevebowman]

Great report as always, excellent work by the UA, Slava Ukraine from Australia

[markdowse]

Send in the BABA YAGA drones! 👍
Slava Ukraini! 💪💪

M 🦘🏏😎

[WeimarAmerica]

Thank you, Sir! I am a regular watcher; your work is stable and unpretentious.