Russian General Fired After 1,000s Casualties In Failed 2 Year Bilohorivka Assault

The battle of Bilohorivka has become synonymous for the failed Russian invasion of Ukraine. Once a thriving town, but now a smoking heap of rubble, Russian forces have been trying to take it for two years, suffering thousands of casualties. 

But they have failed to advance to any significant degree which led a few months ago to the firing of the Russian general commanding the entire southern front for false reporting of successes while covering up fruitless assaults, inadequate artillery support and massive casualties. JL

Euromaidan Press reports:

Recent reports indicate Russian forces have sustained 3,000 casualties in trying to take Bilohorivka in just ten months. Fighting over Bilohorivka has been ongoing for over 2 years. The battle for Bilohorivka has become synonymous with the fruitless Russian efforts in many sectors of the front, trying to achieve the most minor territorial gains, regardless of the cost. In late 2024, Colonel General Gennady Anashkin was dismissed as commander of the Southern Grouping of Forces for providing false reports about battlefield successes near Bilohorivka, leading to unprepared assaults, insufficient fire support missions, and significant casualties.

Today, there is interesting news from the Siversk direction.

Here, Russians threw thousands of soldiers at a small village, which was reduced to ruins in a massive battle spanning over two years. The battle for Bilohorivka has become synonymous with the fruitless Russian efforts in many sectors of the front, trying to achieve the most minor territorial gains, regardless of the cost.

Screenshot from Reporting from Ukraine

Recent reports indicate that Russian forces have sustained around 3,000 casualties in trying to take Bilohorivka in a period of just ten months, including 1,543 killed, 1,455 wounded, and 15 captured. However, as fighting over Bilohorivka has been ongoing for over 2 years, the total number of Russian losses is undoubtedly much higher. These staggering losses reflect the intensity of the combat and the high price the Russians paid for mere positional gains over the past 2 years.

The battle within Bilohorivka itself is unrelenting, as the continuous shelling has reduced buildings to rubble, depriving soldiers of cover and leading to increased casualties.

Screenshot from Reporting from Ukraine

Ukrainians conduct day and night surveillance of the area, preventing Russian forces from establishing full control of the village. If we look at the topographic map, we can see that Ukrainians utilize their positions on the high ground to maintain fire control over Bilohorivka, threatening any Russian movement into the settlement. Geolocated footage highlights how dangerous the current situation is, with every Russian soldier being targeted within minutes by Ukrainian FPV drone operators or small arms fire. This has forced Russians to use smaller infantry groups and, in some cases, even single soldiers to attempt infiltrating Ukrainian positions and gathering sufficient forces for a larger attack.

 

Looking back at the start of the battle, Ukrainian forces instead used the terrikon, a spoil heap from mining operations, to establish fire control over the area.

Screenshot from Reporting from Ukraine

This vantage point allowed defenders to repel Russian assaults effectively, inflicting heavy losses on both personnel and armored vehicles, with the Russians trying to overcome the obstacle and storm the high ground head-on, losing dozens of soldiers each time. However, as the war evolved and drones became more prevalent, the exposed positions atop the terrikon became vulnerable to FPV drones. The need for underground bunkers and fortified positions became apparent, but the loose soil composition rendered extensive tunneling impractical, diminishing the terrikon’s tactical advantage.

The defense of Bilohorivka has been primarily entrusted to the 81st Airmobile Brigade and the 54th Mechanized Brigade. Both units hail from nearby regions: The 81st Brigade’s headquarters is located in Kramatorsk, and the 54th Brigade originates from Bakhmut.

Screenshot from Reporting from Ukraine

This ingrained them with better knowledge of the local terrain, which has proven advantageous in combat operations. The almost two-year-long presence of these brigades in the area has allowed them to accumulate valuable combat experience in this environment, further enhancing their effectiveness against Russian offensives.

On the opposing side, Russian efforts to capture Bilohorivka have been marred by significant command and operational challenges. The 3rd Combined Arms Army, comprising predominantly motorized infantry brigades with no heavy assault units, has been actively engaged in the area. However, these units have faced scrutiny due to misinformation and operational failures.

Screenshot from Reporting from Ukraine

In late 2024, Colonel General Gennady Anashkin was dismissed as commander of the Southern Grouping of Forces for providing false reports about battlefield successes near Bilohorivka, leading to unprepared assaults, insufficient fire support missions, and significant casualties.