DeepState on situation in Huliaipole: Ukrainian and Russian forces may be in neighbouring basements

DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts, has said that Ukraine's defence forces continue to hold positions across most of the city of Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, but further defence of the city is becoming extremely difficult due to the local terrain.

Source: DeepState

Details: Analysts note that the city is entirely within the so-called grey zone, as both Russian and Ukrainian forces are present virtually everywhere. Ukrainian defenders may be sheltering in one basement, while Russian troops occupy the neighbouring one. Only assault groups operate in the open, and the Russians have significantly more of them, which allows Russian forces to film videos in the centre of Huliaipole with their flag, the report says.

According to DeepState, the main challenge for Ukrainian units is the terrain: Huliaipole lies in a lowland, making it extremely difficult to bring personnel into the city. The situation is similar for the Russians, but Russian forces have several times more manpower and therefore are less constrained by the terrain, the analysts add.

Quote: "Despite the heavy fighting for the city and its outskirts, it should not be forgotten that someone must build a defensive line behind Huliaipole to prevent a repeat of the Avdiivka situation, when the enemy simply began pushing towards Pokrovsk because the 'prepared defensive lines' turned out not to be prepared."

Background:

• On 28 December, Defence Forces of Ukraine's South reported that the situation in Huliaipole was "very difficult", but Ukrainian troops continued to hold a significant part of the city.
• On 29 December, DeepState analysts updated their map, reporting advances by Russian occupying forces in the city of Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast and in Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

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