Battle of Krutaya Balka. The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to cut off Donetsk from Gorlovka

The press center of the ATO headquarters today provided information about the battle that took place between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and militants yesterday, at about 15:00 in the Donetsk direction. It became known that as a result of a military clash in the Krutaya Balka area, our fighter was killed.

This village in the north of Yasinovataya is located along the demarcation line (runs in the west) and back in late November-early December local residents, about 80 people, were evacuated to Yasinovataya, where they were placed in a dormitory.

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However, it is still officially unknown which forces control this settlement. In militant reports, Krutaya Balka still appears as their village. But back in early December, on social networks, terrorists could not definitively confirm that the village was still controlled by them and wrote about its possible transition to the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The latest military clash indicates that our forces have taken control of the village.

Note that from a strategic point of view, Krutaya Balka is important if the goal is to gradually cut off Donetsk from Gorlovka.

On the one hand, our forces moved closer to Yasinovataya, expanding the bridgehead, which someday may be needed to storm or encircle the city, as well as go on the offensive.

On the other hand, this advance strengthens our defense capabilities. In addition, control of the Krutaya Balka area together with the Avdiivka industrial zone makes it possible to finally resolve the issue of blocking the route between Donetsk and Gorlovka, which is now under fire control. It is of strategic importance for the logistics and supply of the Donetsk militant group.

Of course, the terrorists have a “plan B” - a route through Makeevka to Zemlyanka and Yasinovataya, and then to Krasny Partizan and Gorlovka. Therefore, in order to completely block messages, our forces must knock out the terrorists from the Red Partisan.

Terrorists have recently been constantly reporting shelling of Krutaya Balka and Krasny Partizan with 120 mm mortars and 122 mm artillery.

Although, the death of our soldier in the Krutaya Balka area rather indicates that it is terrorists who are firing mortars at our positions.

Both on the Svetlodar Bulge and in the Avdeevka-Yasinovataya area, our troops seem to be returning our land one kilometer at a time. And this will be used both to strengthen Ukraine’s position in the negotiations in the “Normandy format” and in all sorts of non-working “Minsk” agreements, and, quite possibly, in the event of a decision being made on a military solution to the issue with the “republics”. Because, strategically, our army is cutting off oxygen to militant groups.