On February 21, the troops of the Russian Federation did not abandon their attempts to advance to the north-west of Svatovo and in the Kremennaya area. The Armed Forces of Ukraine reportedly repelled attacks by Russian troops in the area of Gryanikovka and Masyutovka (both 54km northwest of Svatovo). A Russian blogger reported that the occupiers launched an attack from Shiplovka (8 km south of Kremennaya) and took up positions in Serebryansky forestry.
At the same time, the Ukrainian military carried out limited counterattacks northwest of Svatovo and near Kremennaya. According to Russian media, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were advancing in the area of the Serebryansky forestry near Shiplovka (9 km southeast of Kremennaya) and moved forward a little.
Russian troops continued to build up tactical successes in Bakhmut and its environs. Geolocation footage taken on 14 February and released on 20 February shows Ukrainian tanks firing at Russian infantry in a tree line along the E40 Bakhmut-Slavyansk highway, confirming that Russian forces have succeeded in cutting the E40 road northwest of Bakhmut.
However, the fact that Russian troops blocked the E40 a week ago and still haven’t forced the Ukrainians out of Bakhmut suggests that this is not a vital logistical artery leading into the city. Geolocation footage also indicates that Russian forces have advanced slightly to the northeast of Bakhmut in the area of Berestov (20km northeast of Bakhmut) and to the southwest of Bakhmut in the area of the Mariupol cemetery.
Russian bloggers also noted a slight advance of the invaders in the north of Bakhmut. They also stated that Russian troops were still fighting in the Ivanovskoye area, 5 kilometers west of Bakhmut. The relative silence of Russian forces regarding operations west of Bakhmut along the T0504 Konstantinovka-Chasov Yar-Bakhmut highway may indicate that Russian forces have abandoned their attempts to encircle the city.
It is also reported that the Ukrainian military carried out a successful counterattack north of Avdiivka and restored lost positions in the Vesely area (6 km northeast of Avdiivka). Geolocation footage shows that Russian troops have advanced slightly in the Novomikhailovka area, south of Donetsk.
Russian troops continue to strengthen and build fortifications in the rear areas in the south. It was also reported that the invaders increased the number of mobilized personnel in the south of the Zaporozhye region.
The transfer of irregular forces to the Zaporozhye region indicates that the Russian military leadership has lost the priority of new territorial gains in the Zaporozhye region. On February 21, Russian troops continued to shell the Kherson and Nikolaev regions.
