Ukraine’s top commander said on Sunday that Kiev’s outnumbered troops had retreated to new positions west of three villages on the eastern front, where Russia has massed significant forces in several locations.
Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi’s statement reflected Ukraine’s deteriorating position in the east, which Kiev hopes can stabilize once it receives weapons from the United States under a $61 billion aid package approved last week.
“The situation at the front has worsened,” he wrote on the Telegram app, describing the “most difficult” areas as west of occupied Maryinka and northwest of Avdiivka, the town captured by Russian forces in February.
Kiev’s troops, he said, took up new positions west of the villages of Berdychi and Semenivka, both north of Avdiivka, and Novomykhailivka, further south, near the town of Maryinka.
“In general, the enemy achieved certain tactical successes in these areas, but failed to gain operational advantages,” Syrskyi said, adding that Russia had sent four brigades to the attack.
The statement did not mention the situation in Novobakhmutivka, another village near Berdychi, which the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday its forces had captured.
Moscow’s troops have been advancing slowly since capturing the bastion town of Avdiivka, taking advantage of Ukrainian shortages of artillery shells and personnel.
Online maps of the battlefield produced by open-source intelligence analysts suggest they have advanced more than 15km towards the village of Ocheretyne since capturing Avdiivka.
Further ahead, the Kiev-controlled city of Chasiv Yar is an important emerging battleground due to its position on high ground that could serve as a gateway to the cities of Kostiantynivka, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
Syrskiy described Chasiv Yar and the village of Ivanivske to the northeast as the “hottest spots” on this part of the front. The Russian Defense Ministry said it had repelled Ukrainian counterattacks near Chasiv Yar.
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Tags: Ukraine retreats villages eastern front worsens commander
