How 300 Ukrainians on the east side of the Dnipro are driving Russia to despair, so explosive is the situation in the Middle East at the moment – an expert classifies it

In the war between Ukraine and Russia, neither side can currently gain the upper hand. Instead of pursuing military objectives, Russia is again increasingly attacking Ukrainian residential areas with large-scale drone and missile attacks, and on the major battlefields at Avdiivka and Bakhmut the invaders are apparently recklessly sacrificing people and material for a few hundred meters of territorial gain. The Institute for War Studies (ISW) called Russian progress in Donetsk Oblast “marginal.”

What Russia gains in Donetsk, it loses in Zaporizhia Oblast. The Ukrainian army slowly makes its way south of Robotyne. But these reconquests of territory are also modest.

Besides the main battle areas, the situation at Krynky is currently the main topic of discussion. The small village is located on the left/east side of the Dnipro – and therefore in an area theoretically controlled by Russia.

However, in early November, about 300 Ukrainian soldiers managed to establish a bridgehead there. Securing a river bridge is called a bridgehead. In other words, Ukraine can smuggle troops there across the Dnipro.

Western observers initially assumed the position would be temporary, as an attempt to establish a long-term position in Krynky failed in October. But the team has been holding this position for two months now, even though Russia is doing everything it can to drive the liberators away again. With reference to the Battle of Thermopylae, the Ukrainians at Krynky are already celebrated as “Spartiates”.

According to Russian military bloggers, Russia has significantly more equipment and soldiers, but the tactical superiority of the Ukrainians, especially in electronic warfare, is giving the invaders one defeat after another. The Russian military leadership is so disappointed that so-called Zhukov maneuvers are already being carried out.

Georgi Konstantinovich Zhukov was the most famous Russian general in World War II. He had the Soviet flag raised on the Reichstag in Berlin, survived several serious war injuries and was feared for his ruthlessness and willingness to make sacrifices. Legend has it that he once cleared a German minefield by marching his own troops across it.

The Russian approach to Krynky is described in a similar way. Ukraine mines the surrounding streets and fields at night with drones. Despite better judgement, troops of the 104th Airborne Division are said to have repeatedly driven blindly into the mining areas. They lost several special forces – without improving the battlefield situation.

Video recordings circulating on X are an indication of the accuracy of the statements. They show masses of destroyed Russian vehicles along a road near Krynky. The ISW also reports heavy fighting around the former village of 1,000 souls. Ukraine can also count on artillery support from the other side of the Dnipro. According to Forbes, thousands of Russian soldiers have so far failed to destroy the beachhead. Since October, Russia has lost more than 140 heavy guns; Ukraine has lost 25.