by DAVID AXE
The town of Velyka Novosilka, in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast, is a major hub for supplies flowing east to west to Russian forces fighting in southeastern Ukraine. The village of Komar, 11 miles to the north, anchors Russian defenses along the road threading south toward Velyka Novosilka.
All that is to say, if Ukrainian forces can capture Komar and neighboring settlements such as Fedorivka and Vesele, they can squeeze the supply lines through Velyka Novosilka—and by extension squeeze Russian regiments and brigades (many under the command of the 29th Combined Arms Army) all along the southeastern front line.
And that’s why, since this spring, Ukrainian forces—including the 79th and 80th Air Assault Brigades—have been probing for gaps in Russian defenses in and around Komar.
