In a curious turn of event, Zelenskyy puts out a very public video, claiming that he accepted his generals' decision to stay and fight for Bakhmut; instead of the tactical/organised withdrawal that is reportedly underway.
This could either be Zelenskyy throwing the generals under the bus; or perhaps the generals indeed is responding to the Wagner PMC's ammunition woes; to ride on the effectivenss of the counteroffensives thus far, to retake the surrounding regions of Bakhmut.
Meanwhile, Russian forces captured more than half of the eastern part of Bakhmut with just parts of the south-east of the city still under Ukrainian control.
Watch the entire video for the full Situation Report (SITREP).
ANALYSIS: [ Analysis ] Secret plan of Wagner PMC in their Bakhmut Offensive - https://youtu.be/Nu-A0F9a-9A [ Analysis ] 3 weak spots of Ukraine's Avdiivka Front that can cause operational encirclement - https://youtu.be/lIGlZcb5KMk [ Battle of Bakhmut ] Ukraine to STAY & FIGHT for Bakhmut; Zelenskyy throwing Generals under the bus - https://youtu.be/O2mBWI5Eqzw [ Bakhmut ] Mass Ukrainian Withdrawal NOW Underway!!! - https://youtu.be/gZ_-OUlpR-k [ Battle of Bakhmut ] DEFYING Prigozhin/Wagner: NO RETREAT despite abandoning Khromove & E.Bakhmut - https://youtu.be/PZ8hVeM-xxQ [ Bakhmut ] Prigozhin TAUNTS Ukraine to withdraw as noose tighten on Ukrainian defenders in Bakhmut - https://youtu.be/16WsWR_UZeQ [ Bryansk-Chernihiv ] Deliberate PROVOCATION to elicit reaction with daring raid into Russia - https://youtu.be/7xrFb_z1x_4 [ Donetsk Front ] Russian broke through into Pobjeda; Fighting reported all around Marinka - https://youtu.be/txvEYPGWL8g [ Vuhledar Front ] Russia forces still at dacha east of Vuhledar despite Ukrainian counterattack? - https://youtu.be/NdmZrDfda6Y
With the extremely detailed report (finally), we are able to mark out most of the Russian static positions across the entire northern front. The "borders" are edited/altered as such.
"Operational information as of 12.00 on 19.03.2022 regarding the Russian invasion:
The twenty-fourth day of the heroic opposition of the Ukrainian people to the Russian military invasion continues.
Russian occupation forces are trying to continue a strategic offensive against Ukraine. The main tasks of defeating groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, encircling Kyiv, reaching the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, and establishing control over the left-bank part of Ukraine have not been fulfilled. The enemy partially reached the purpose in the Donetsk direction. The enemy is stopped in the direction of Nikolaev. The enemy continues to launch missile and bomb strikes on military and civilian infrastructure using high-precision, according to Russia, weapons and unguided aerial bombs.
Since the beginning of hostilities, the enemy has struck 291 missile strikes, used 459 surface-to-sea, naval and air-based missiles, and conducted 1,403 air raids.
The main land targets of the Russian invaders were Ukrainian cities and villages, namely industrial infrastructure, schools, hospitals, national historical and religious shrines, and densely populated residential areas. There were no significant changes in the situation in the Volyn region. In the Polissya direction, separate units of the occupiers are defending the settlements of Poliske, Kropyvnya, Zakharivka, Oliva, Zhovtneve, Ozershchyna, Lypivka, Kopyliv, Motyzhyn, Buzova, Horenychi, Bucha, and Demydiv.
In the area northwest of Chernobyl, the invaders deployed the rear area of the Eastern Military District.
In the course of hostilities, the enemy continues to suffer significant losses in personnel and equipment. A network of health care facilities of the city of Gomel and the Gomel region of the Republic of Belarus is used to receive wounded servicemen of the occupying forces. Hospitals with operating departments are mainly used to provide medical care to the occupiers. Scheduled operations for the civilian population are not conducted.
To replenish the losses of the Eastern Military District group, separate units have been transferred to the territory of the Republic of Belarus. 155th Separate Marine Brigade (Vladivostok) and 40th Separate Marine Brigade (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky).
In the northern direction, the enemy is trying to act in the areas of the settlements of Lyubech, Slavutych, Kovpita, Zolotynka, Mena, Nizhyn, Branytsia, Kalita, Bogdanovka, Lukash, Romny, Nedrigailiv. He did not carry out active offensive actions.
The partial blockade of the city of Chernihiv continues, the enemy carries out artillery shelling of densely populated areas. Up to three brigades are trying to maintain defensive positions in the areas of Lyubech, Mykhailo-Kotsyubynske, Yakubivka, Shestovytsia, Zolotynka, Yahidne, Lukashovka, and Kiselivka. No significant changes in the composition and nature of the enemy's actions were noted.
In the direction of Brovary, the invader operates with forces of up to three brigades. It is trying to control the border in the areas of Markovtsi, Zavorychi, Rudnya, Bogdanovka, Zalissia, Mykhailivka, Svitilnya, Peremoha, Rudnytske, Velykyi Krupil, Malyi Krupil, and Petrivka. The occupying forces did not take any active action. The enemy does not refuse to carry out offensive operations on Kyiv and tries to regroup combat units.
In the Slobozhansky direction certain forces of the Western military district did not carry out active offensive actions. Romny, Talalaivka.
In the direction of Sumy and Okhtyrka, units of the 1st Panzer Army of the enemy are not conducting active offensive operations, concentrating efforts on blocking the city of Sumy. The enemy is trying to prepare for offensive operations in the direction of the settlements of Trostyanets, Okhtyrka, Poltava, part of the forces - in Pryluky and Kyiv.
In the Kharkiv region, units of the 6th General Army and the Northern Fleet are active"
