Unit Observer
🇷🇺Russian forces thus continued advancing from Uspenivka and Poltavka, reaching the Hulyaipole-Pokrovske highway at the end of November. Various villages in the open fields between these two larger towns were infiltrated and taken by invading forces. Hulyaipole was, at this point, in a semi-encirclement with Russians on three sides. The 🇺🇦225th Assault Regiment in its entire strength was thus redeployed from Sumy in late November. It took control of the entire Hulyaipole sector, approximately from Dorozhnyanka to Dobropillya, and re-organized the (mainly TDF) forces now under it. While the city still fell to the Russians, the 🇺🇦225th’s intervention managed to slow down their momentum and consolidate the line on the Hulyaipole-Pokrovske highway by January. While enemy infiltrations continued, they were not allowed to consolidate after moving kilometers deep behind the Ukrainian lines, as had happened during the autumn. Despite this, Ukrainian higher command also deployed most of the 🇺🇦1st Assault Regiment north of the 225th, along with various elements of the 🇺🇦33rd, 24th and 210th Regiments. In hindsight, this decision could have been a hint for 🇷🇺Russian command that the 🇺🇦Ukrainian objective was not simply slowing their advances, but retaking the initiative in the area.
