Units of Ukraine’s 93rd Kharkiv Mechanized Brigade have advanced up to 1.5 kilometers towards enemy positions near Krymske in Luhansk Oblast, the brigade’s press service reported on its Facebook page on June 2.
The message says the Ukrainian units moved deeper into the no-man’s land towards a road leading to the city of Bakhmut, and set up new defensive positions there.
“The frontline has been slightly evened out, and taking these positions enables us to exert stricter fire control over the enemy, and provides for a better defense,” the brigade’s press service said.
Before the advance, the brigade’s reconnaissance units had for months scouted the local terrain, establishing which routes were used by enemy infiltration teams, and mapping minefields. Russian-backed forces have planted large numbers of mines and explosives traps, including those prohibited under international law, Ukraine’s military said.
After carrying out preparations and demining, Ukrainian forces then pushed into the gray zone to take up their new positions, installing heavily fortified strongpoints and lookout posts.
At some points, Ukraine’s forward units now hold defensive positions only 200 meters away from the enemy’s trenches.
“The territory freed and taken under control by the 93rd Brigade servicemen was meant to be taken back by Ukraine under the Minsk agreements. This is what was done by Ukrainian forces, in a carefully planned, prepared, and well-conducted operation,” the brigade’s statement says.
The brigade said that its units had come under fire from a range of enemy weapons during the operation, but that Ukrainian forces had suffered no casualties.
Previously, on May 22, Ukrainian forces belonging to the 53rd Mechanized Brigade advanced 1 kilometer into no-man’s land towards the town of Debaltseve, which was occupied by Russian-backed forces in February 2015 after a battle involving units of the regular Russian army.
