From "The Analyst":

CHASIV YAR: UKRAINE HOLDS THE LINE

The focus over the last couple of day has suddenly shifted to what had become a very slow, grinding, expensive, Russian advance loosing large numbers of men for every dacha they took in the canal district east of the canal itself.
Most of these assaults were repelled by forces of the Kraken Regiment and lately, the International Legion.
Always controversial, international legions have been present in many wars over the last 100 years. Most famously the International brigade fought against the forces of Fascism
in the Spanish Civil War 1936-39, largely and perhaps ironically now, with the support of Russia.
These days they consist of technically private citizens who have retired from their own country’s military. Most are from the US, UK, France but there are many others. Usually their motivation is to do the right thing, and for many they find it difficult returning to civilian life. For most it’s about doing the right thing and being able to use the skills and knowledge they acquired in their career service. Legally they tread an often fine line - if it suits western governments to support such actions, they are fine, but they tread the line of being close to mercenaries. It is the cause and motivation that defines their acceptability. In this case they are widely admired and respected- not least by people like me too old to join them and lacking field combat experience.
The fact is that the international legion has such wide experience and knowledge they are one of Ukraine’s best military units.
One of their advantages is that the US and UK especially trust them with some of the most sophisticated equipment because they have the training to use it properly and have done so for most of their careers. From Marines and infantry to special forces they’re verging on an elite force. Your average Russian soldier isn’t going to want to find themselves up against this lot!
The International force counter attacked the Russians in the houses they had captured, clearing each set building by building, in a systematic and deliberate but highly coordinated way.
Small groups of four methodically eradicated the orcs from their positions until they were all eliminated.
The International forces are up against some really poorly trained Russians. One video shows how poor comms led an MTLB to drop of Russians right in the wrong place, panic and then try to drive back, only to literally run over and kill other troops following on behind.
The quality of the Ukrainian side against the poorly trained and largely miserable orc army, can be demonstrated by the fact Russia has approximately 80,000 troops on this sector of the front in total. Ukraine has around 15,000.
Yet again the Russians suffer from low levels of mechanised forces and poor equipment. Many units are literally meat-assault canon fodder designed to attrit Ukraine’s forces. The reality is they don’t even manage to do that.
The annoying aspect is that if Ukraine had the manpower and machinery Chasiv Yar would be a prime candidate for a major armoured counter attack - the Russians aren’t well fortified or equipped here. It pains me to lose such an opportunity but that’s the way things are.
The defence continues, the line holds.
Meanwhile in Kharkiv the Ukrainian forces are believed to have taken back the key village of Hilgade north of Liptsy. They’re also believed to have around 90% control of Vovchansk. Despite the Russians supposedly reinforcing their forces with more infantry, my understanding is that by being abe to fire into Russia the result has been that reserves are being wiped out in transit.
This whole operation is looking progressively worse for the Russians. They just don’t seem to understand that it’s a failure and they won’t withdraw. It’s almost like the reverse of some kind of mini-Stalingrad. Barred from retreat by a megalomaniac leader and yet certain defeat looming the longer they stay. CONTINUES…./