According to recent analysis, the Russian troops are facing delays in their offensive in Donetsk. It is reported that they have been making slow progress in the strategic town of Chasiv Yar, which holds significant importance for Kyiv’s defensive line in eastern Ukraine. As a result, this town has become a prime target for Moscow.
Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the army chief of Ukraine, has previously revealed that Russian forces have set their sights on seizing the strategically vital town before May 9th.
The town is located west of Bakhmut, which was captured by Russian forces in May 2023 following intense and violent battles. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), capturing Chasiv Yar would give Russia the ability to launch attacks into Ukraine’s strategically important fortress cities.
Fortress cities encompass a cluster of towns in the western region of Ukrainian-held territory, namely Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, and Kostyantynivka. These cities are strategically located between seven and 18 miles away from the front line.
Taking control of Chasiv Yar would not only assist Russia in isolating Kostiantynivka, which lies just over 7 miles away from the front line, but it would also undermine Ukraine’s defense in the Donetsk region, according to the analysis provided by the think tank. The Ukrainian military has expressed concerns that Russia would advance from Chasiv Yar towards Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Chasiv Yar, described as “heavily defended” and situated on elevated terrain, has been identified by the U.K. government as an important location. The area has proven to be a challenging ground for the advancing Russian forces, as progress has been relatively slow.
According to the Russian government, they announced on Sunday that their forces successfully captured the village of Bohdanivka, which is situated northeast of the intended settlement. They also stated that they have managed to “improve the situation along the front line.” In a statement released by Russia’s Defense Ministry, it was revealed that Moscow’s troops successfully repelled two separate Ukrainian attacks near Chasiv Yar within the past day.
According to Ukraine’s military, Russian troops carried out 28 attacks in the past 24 hours around Bakhmut, including the area of Ivanivske, which is located to the southeast of Chasiv Yar.
Russia has primarily directed its efforts towards advancing westwards in Donetsk, steadily gaining ground in the eastern part of the region. Meanwhile, it continues to engage in lower-level skirmishes at various locations along the front line.
Ukrainian officials have expressed concerns about Russia’s intentions, claiming that a summer offensive is being planned. They believe that this offensive may commence as early as the end of next month. Kyiv has emphasized that its ability to defend against such an attack will depend heavily on the timely delivery of military aid from Western nations.
The U.S. House of Representatives has finally approved over $60 billion in aid to Ukraine on Saturday. This aid package had been delayed for several months due to political disputes. The next step is for the Senate to vote on the package, after which it will be sent to President Joe Biden for his final approval.
According to the assessment by the ISW on Saturday, it is likely that it will take weeks for the aid to arrive on the battlefield and begin to have an impact. Unfortunately, during this time, Ukraine may lose more ground to Russia. The think tank also warns that Moscow might seize the opportunity to increase its attacks before the arrival of the new U.S. aid.
