Regarding Artyomovsk and Kurdyumovka (southern flank of the Russian Artyomovsk grouping):

1. Ukrainians have taken a bridgehead at the Kurdyomovka dam over the Seversky Donets-Donbass canal. Nothing more. They have not stepped foot into the settlement itself, which remains under the control of the Russian Army. Coordinates of the dam: 48°28'15.0"N 37°56'53.0"E.

2. The Seversky Donets-Donbass canal (red line) is a natural boundary in northern Donbass, stretching from Gorlovka, west of Artyomovsk (bordering on Chasov Yar), and north to east of Slavyansk, where it draws water from Seversky Donets river.

3. The canal was likely the intended boundary target of the Russian Army’s offensive west of Artyomovsk, but Wagner PMC units were unable to secure Ivanovskoye (Krasnoye) and had to pull back from the Khromovoye (Artyomovskoye) settlement to the city borders. This was the point when the up-to-then successful pincer envelopment operation to encircle Artyomovsk had to be given up and the Wagner PMC units focused on storming the city block-by-block in a meat-grinder assault. The furthest the Russian troops got to in the north was the environs of Privolye, but they had to withdraw from there as well, because they were unable to take control over Orekhovo-Vasilyevka, and the pincer became over extended and vulnerable to flanking attacks by the Ukrainians.

4. As it currently stands, the forward movement of the Ukrainian troops is minimal in the area of Kurdyumovka. Without proper pontoon crossings upstream of the canal, it is unlikely that they will be able to exploit the bridgehead. The Kurdyumovka positions of the Russian army may become vulnerable if Kleshcheevka is compromised, but there is no evidence that this is likely to happen. Anything further south of Kurdyumovka is nearly an impossibility without a complete front breakdown (not happening).

5. Once again, the Ukrainians are planting flags on the boundary. Nothing new.

@Slavyangrad
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