Although Russia launches twice the artillery fire compared to Ukraine on the battlefield, Russian attacks this spring and summer failed to go on their goals, Ukrainian Armed Forces leader Olxandr Sirski said today.

Specifically, according to Sirski, the Russian plans to create a “neutral zone” in the Sumi and Harcovo regions, to occupy the city of Pokrovsk and the entire Donetsk region failed.

Donetsk’s occupation is a key objective of the war for Russia, which currently controls more than 70% of the region and progresses slowly.

“Anyone who goes to burst, shoot him”

At the same time, Kiev Independent published an audio excerpt, which heard a Russian unit governor on Donetsk’s front, to order his soldiers to open fire against their subordinates, trying to retreat.

In essence, the Commander demanded that the troops remain in place at all costs.

This is a telephone call published by the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Service (HUR) on September 25th.

“There is no way to retreat, in any way! No one is receding anywhere. Everyone holds their place“, It sounds like the commander says. “If someone bursts it, shoot him.”

“I’ll say it again, If someone bursts it just shoot him“The Russian officer says.

Russia’s tactics

According to Sirksi, since the beginning of summer the Russians are attacking a tactic, which he described as “a thousand incisions» – Multiple small infantry attacks.

“This consists of the simultaneous use of a large number of small raid groups – 4 to 6 soldiers using the ground, the ravines and wooded areas, with the main aim of penetrating as deep as possible in our territory.”