Russia is accumulating large forces around Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine as it seeks to make a breakthrough in the Donetsk region, a Ukrainian official said on Friday.
Illia Yevlash, spokesperson for the operational group overseeing the eastern front line, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that Russian forces were concentrating efforts to make a powerful push on the key strategic city to the west of Bakhmut, which fell to Moscow in May last year, hoping to advance toward Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Ukrainian forces battling Russian efforts to advance in the Bakhmut direction say they have been experiencing a large Russian push over the last three weeks and are facing constant attacks as Moscow troops send in wave after wave of infantry and target them with artillery and drones.
Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP
With the war now into its third year, Russian forces have been bludgeoning some Ukrainian defensive positions into submission. They have been deploying overwhelming amounts of artillery and troop numbers in an effort to punch through defensive lines at targeted points.
Although Russia’s gains have been small, slow and costly, Ukraine does not have enough reservists and has a severe shortage of artillery shells, as its supply of military aid from Western partners has waned.
During a visit to Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv region on Friday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Ukranian President Voldymyr Zelenskiy signed a bilateral security agreement that included 2 billion euros (US$2.2 billion) in military aid from the Netherlands this year and further defense assistance over the next 10 years.
Zelenskiy wrote on X that the deal prioritized “the provision of air defense, artillery, sea and long-range capabilities, with a particular emphasis on strengthening Ukraine’s air force.”
A spokesman for the 17th Separate Tank Brigade said that despite limited resources Ukrainian forces were trying their best to adjust their defense to the ever-changing Russian tactics, even as troops on the ground reported they could not respond with the same firepower and personnel as Russia is able to use against them.
The commander of the tank company working in the Bakhmut direction said: “You can really feel it, the density of fire is higher.”
“When we can make 10 shots, they can make 50, they have an advantage over us in ammunition, it’s undeniable. And also, there is an advantage in manpower,” said Dmytro, who only gave his first name due to security concerns.
Earlier this month, Russia took the strategic eastern city of Avdiivka by overwhelming Ukrainian forces with large numbers of troops and superior air and artillery firepower.
Russia’s tactics in that battle, including its use of drones and dozens of aerial bombs to obliterate Ukrainian positions in the city, has raised concerns it could replicate the same methods elsewhere if Western aid to support air-defense systems and supplies of long-range weapons and artillery does not come through soon.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense wrote on social media on Friday that the armed forces had shot down 13 Russian aircraft last month, which included 10 Su-34 fighter-bombers, 2 Su-3 fighters and 1 A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft.
“This is the best result since October 2022. We are grateful to our soldiers for their efficient work. And to our partners — for strengthening the air defense capabilities of Ukraine,” the ministry said.
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