Stubborn fighting around the city of Kremennaya, Luhansk region, continued on Christmas Eve at the usual level. For the past three weeks, the fighting on this segment of the front has been concentrated on a densely wooded area to the west of the city..

The coniferous forest provides some cover from aerial surveillance even in winter, so both sides are likely trying to fine-tune their artillery fire, Ministry of Defense intelligence analysts say..

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At the same time, Russian commanders most likely see UAF pressure around Kremennaya as a threat to the right flank of their Bakhmut sector, which they see as key to any future advance to occupy the rest of Donetsk Oblast..

Latest defense Intelligence update on situation in Ukraine - 7 January 2023Get from more than UK government response: https://t. co/VZU0jzivhz? #StandWithUkraine? pic. twitter. com/jCenYgCOSZ.

— Ministry of Defense? (@DefenceHQ) January 7, 2023.

Recall, on December 28, the New York Times wrote that the Armed Forces of Ukraine approached the industrial gates of Donbass - the city of Kremennaya, which is one of the most heavily mined Russians in this war.. Subsequently, this information was confirmed by Brigadier General Alexei Gromov, adding that the defenders advanced 2.5 km into the city. The de-occupation of Kremennaya will allow Ukrainian soldiers to control the main roads to Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, as well as to strike at the invaders attacking Bakhmut.