The Armed Forces of Ukraine have taken control of the waste heap in Horlivka. This event is of significant military and strategic importance for Ukraine, as the capture of the facility will allow Ukrainian troops to strengthen their positions and ensure better control over the situation in the temporarily occupied region. Find out more about why the waste heap in Horlivka is important

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the capture of a spoil tip in the occupied city of Horlivka in Donetsk region. It is symbolic that the achievement of the Ukrainian defenders was announced on December 12, the Day of the Land Forces of Ukraine.

We are going to tell you about the significance of this event for the frontline.

Ukrainian Armed Forces take control of a spoil tip in Horlivka: what it means

According to the Head of State, the assault group of the 24th separate mechanized brigade named after King Danylo, despite the difficult conditions, "recaptured one of the spoil heaps within Horlivka and seized the enemy's positions."

"Now our flag of Ukraine is flying over the spoil tip. Horlivka is Ukraine! Donbas is Ukraine!" Zelensky wrote.

The President also shared a video from the Land Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine showing how the Horlivka spoil tip is coming under Ukrainian control.

According to the video, the spoil heap (an artificial embankment made of waste rock removed during underground coal mining) is located between the northwestern outskirts of occupied Horlivka and the village of Pivdenne, which Ukrainian soldiers liberated in 2018.

In the dark, Ukrainian soldiers climbed to the top of the spoil tip and planted a flag. Also, at least five russian soldiers were captured directly on the spoil tip.

Back in mid-November, russian military bloggers and correspondents began reporting on attempts by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to advance in the Horlivka area.

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According to the BBC, a well-known russian "military correspondent" Semyon Pegov posted a video report from the outskirts of Horlivka on his WarGonzo telegram channel on November 22. He spoke with russian officers in charge of this area. According to them, the Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted several attacks in November with up to three battalions (approximately 1-1,500 troops), aiming to take several spoil heaps and even invaded the territory of one of Horlivka's mines.

Although Pegov claims that all attacks were repelled by the russians, video footage from the Land Forces shows that Ukrainian troops did manage to plant a Ukrainian flag on one of the spoil heaps on the outskirts of Horlivka, probably near the Gagarin mine.

The height of this spoil heap is approximately 200 meters, which allows for control of the surrounding area. However, due to the characteristics of the spoil tip, it is almost impossible to deploy significant forces and equipment on it.

The capture of the spoil tip is tactically important for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but does not provide strategic advantages. Analysts believe that it improves the tactical situation.

Occupation of Horlivka 

The city of Horlivka in Donetsk region has been under temporary occupation by russia since 2014.

Before the large-scale invasion of russia and the readiness to resume the active phase of hostilities, the occupiers introduced illegal forced "mobilization" of the local population into the ranks of the operating terrorist armed groups in the region in Horlivka, as well as in other annexed territories.

In March 2022, there were reports that the 95th Separate Airmobile Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to enter Horlivka and take control of part of the city. However, they failed to hold these positions. Later, Ukrainian troops began to strike military facilities of the Russian occupation forces in the city.

We remind you! Since September 2023, Ukraine has been talking about how everyone should prepare for a war of attrition. Read what this phase of the war entails and whether Ukraine will be able to win if it engages in positional battles with russia along the entire front line in our previous article.

Photo: president.gov.ua

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