The situation in the conflict zone between Russia and Ukraine remains critical in the early hours of August 23.
Over the past 24 hours, a serious escalation has been observed both on the front line in Donbass and deep in the rear of the Russian Federation.
Air defense repels massive drone attack on Moscow
The mayor of the Russian capital Sergey Sobyanin announced the elimination of another wave of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on the approaches to Moscow. According to him, Russian air defense systems (AVO) successfully intercepted the devices, preventing serious destruction in the metropolis. According to the official information portal of the mayor of Moscow (mos.ru/mayor/themes/15665050), in the last week the intensity of attacks has reached record levels, with hundreds of drones being neutralized on distant approaches.
Civilian women injured in strikes near Belgorod
In the Russian border region Belgorod several women were injured in the detonation of a Ukrainian UAV. The local operational headquarters reported attacks in the villages of Krasnaya Yaruga, Dubovoye and Graivoron. The women received severe shrapnel injuries and were urgently hospitalized, the Russian news agency Interfax reports (interfax.ru/russia/1110723). Material damage was also caused to residential buildings and private cars.
Elite units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are being transferred to Dobropil'ye and Druzhkovka
A large-scale regrouping of Ukrainian forces is being observed on the front in the Donetsk region. Military expert Andrey Marochko stated on TASS (tass.ru) that the command of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Ukraine is urgently transferring elite units to Dobropolye. The aim of this operation is to stabilize the front line and contain panic among the newly mobilized soldiers in the wake of the Russian offensive.
In parallel, experts note that The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are sharply increasing their forces near Druzhkivka. Reinforcements are being sent specifically to the Alekseevo-Druzhkovka and Raiskoye areas. Analysts from the Russian publication Life (life.ru/p/1915132) point out that the accumulation of reserves in this direction is an attempt by Kiev to build a new defensive bridgehead and stop the tactical advance of the Russian army.