Russia’s Claim on Chasiv Yar
In a significant turn of events, Russia has announced that its forces have taken the key town of Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine. This comes after a grueling 18 months of combat in the area.
Ukrainian Response
The Ukrainian military responded to these claims on Thursday, confirming that Russian troops were striking near Chasiv Yar, situated just a few miles west of Bakhmut. However, the Ukrainian side firmly denied losing control of the town, stating that it remained under the supervision of the 11th Army Corps.
Russian Defense Ministry’s Claims
The Russian Defense Ministry even shared drone footage purportedly showing their soldiers operational in parts of Chasiv Yar, reporting the clearing of over 4,200 structures and claiming about 50 Ukrainian fighters might have been captured.
Once home to about 12,000 residents, Chasiv Yar now lies in ruins following two years of relentless airstrikes and artillery bombardments.
Historical Context of the Conflict
The attack on Chasiv Yar was initiated by Russian forces last April, right after they successfully forced the Ukrainian troops from Bakhmut. Analysts indicate that Russian troops have faced heavy losses in their attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses.
According to the tracking site DeepState, which actively maps the war’s front lines, Ukrainian forces are still holding strong at the western outskirts of the town. They highlighted that, while video evidence from the Russian Defense Ministry shows troops planting flags in some neighborhoods, real control over those areas hasn’t been established.
If these claims about Chasiv Yar are validated, this victory could allow Russian forces critical high ground and pose a threat to Ukraine’s fortified urban centers in the Donetsk region, including cities like Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, and Kostyantynivka.
Impact of Attacks in Donetsk Region
These cities have been recurrent targets for Russian missile strikes and aerial assaults. Just on Thursday, local military officials reported a tragic incident in Kramatorsk that led to the loss of one life and injured about a dozen, all caused by a missile hitting a five-story residential building.
Generally, in the Donetsk region, Russian troops have slowly gained ground this year, albeit at the cost of significant casualties. The strategic town of Pokrovsk is currently encircled on three sides by Russian forces, who have made advancements towards the borders of the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Experts believe that Russian forces have adjusted their tactics, deploying in smaller units either on foot or using motorbikes to dodge Ukrainian drone strikes.
Missile Attack in Kyiv
In a separate but related incident, Russia executed another significant missile and drone assault on Kyiv in the early hours of Thursday, resulting in at least 28 fatalities.
Citing the head of military administration in Kyiv, Tymur Tkachenko, one missile struck directly onto an apartment complex in the Sviatoshynskyi district.
By Friday, our source noted that Ukraine’s State Emergency Services had located 25 bodies from the debris during continuous rescue efforts, which included three children.
Reports indicate rescuers managed to save a man who had been trapped for over three hours under the rubble, while families of the missing awaited crucial news. One distressed mother shared her experience about her loved ones being inside the building when the missile hit.
Adding to the tragedy, an additional three people lost their lives in other parts of the capital due to the desolate assaults from Russia.
In response to this brutality, Ukrainian President Zelensky remarked that these aggressive strikes were meant to silence global calls for peace. He expressed this sentiment in a post on X.
Coincidentally, right after returning from a shelter, Iryna Tsymokh shared how her family barely escaped an attack in their pajamas, showcasing the utter chaos each strike generates. Zoya Onishenko said she survived only because she had decided to spend the night elsewhere.
Zelensky indicated that over 300 drones and eight missiles were aimed at the capital, categorizing it as a deliberate strategy to overwhelm the city’s defense systems.
