KIM JONG-UN CRIES. North Korean Unit Quickly DIES.

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

Here, Russian forces slowed down their offensive efforts in order to reorganize their forces inside the Hrodivka-Novohrodivka-Selydove defense belt. The Ukrainians took advantage of the Russian operational pause, deploying the elite NATO-trained 425th Assault Battalion Skala and 5th Assault Brigade, facing the unprepared and exhausted Russian units which based on the combat videos, seem to have been reinforced by North Korean soldiers.

Recently, Russian forces secured control of the town of Selydove. The protracted but crucial battle for this town delayed their primary offensive toward Pokrovsk and significantly thinned their ranks. This development forced the Russians to reorganize and regroup, reducing the intensity of their attacks and exposing critical vulnerabilities. Seizing this opportunity, Ukrainian commanders from the 5th Assault Brigade and the 425th Skala Assault Battalion devised a series of surprise operations to reclaim lost positions near Novohrodivka and Hrodivka.

Ukrainian command has identified that the new Russian offensives from Selydove are aimed at the E-50 highway and its flanks. Concurrently, Russian forces are attempting to advance on Myrnograd from Novohrodivka and Hrodivka. To counter these efforts and shift the Russians onto the defensive in this region, Ukrainian forces initiated a preemptive strategy. The first step involved deploying the Ukrainian Air Force, which launched a precision strike on Russian concentrations in Hrodivka. Combat footage reveals Ukrainian jets employing French-made AASM Hammer guided bombs to disrupt Russian preparations, effectively increasing their vulnerability to a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

The airstrikes were further supported by FPV drone strikes, which targeted and eliminated Russian survivors attempting to disperse and hide from the aerial bombardment. Notably, Ukrainian drone operators observed soldiers among the survivors who appeared to be of Asian descent, suggesting the presence of North Korean personnel integrated into Russian units. This aligns with earlier reports, as just two weeks ago, Ukrainian fighters began noticing North Korean flags flying over newly captured positions. These North Korean soldiers are fully integrated into the Russian army, wearing identical uniforms. However, the recent footage of North Korean rifles and machine guns in Kursk suggests they may be partially equipped by North Korea, hinting at a deeper logistical cooperation between the two countries.

Following the airstrike, the 425th Assault Brigade Skala launched a decisive counterattack. Infantry squads advanced aboard Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, which provided suppressive fire on Russian positions while withstanding hits from RPGs. Upon reaching the target area, the Bradleys dismounted Ukrainian assault squads, who proceeded to storm and capture six trenches held by Russian forces. During the assault, one Bradley was struck by a Russian anti-tank guided missile but successfully withdrew thanks to its robust armor. Meanwhile, Ukrainian stormtroopers methodically cleared the trenches, eliminating Russian resistance and securing new positions. The captured trenches near Novohrodivka established a critical buffer zone before Myrnograd, disrupting Russian plans and forcing their troops to retreat to their original positions.

Overall, Russian forces were caught off guard in an operational pause which resulted in a series of powerful Ukrainian counterattacks. The panicking assault by Russian and North Korean forces which ended in a disaster, possibly due to severe problems with communication and coordination. The positions regained by the Ukrainian fighters will amplify and reinforce their defenses to prepare for further intensification of the Russian offensive towards Pokrovsk and Myrnograd, to establish a buffer zone to delay them before they reach these cities. Such a Ukrainian approach could stop the Russian offensive in winter, as the ground will become muddy from snow, which creates logistical issues for the Russian and North Korean troops. 

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