Amid a fresh wave of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s east, Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from parts of the key eastern town of Chasiv Yar, where Russian forces have recently claimed several advances. The fall of the small hilltop town is concerning for Kyiv, as it could potentially speed up Russian advances towards major civilian centers in the wider eastern Donetsk region. The latest developments in Ukraine’s frontline came a day after Vice President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass a national security supplemental funding bill to resupply the country’s beleaguered troops, whose ammunition supplies are running low.
Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of Ukraine’s forces in the region, said the withdrawal from Chasiv Yar was a tactical decision to avoid a trap and save Ukrainian troops trapped in a tightening noose. He told his forces in a Telegram post that the move was also meant to protect civilians from Russia’s escalating bombardment.
Russian forces had been pushed westward since February when they seized the strategic town of Avdiivka after months of intense fighting. Avdiivka’s fall marked Russia’s most significant advance since a full-scale war began in 2014.
But Ukrainian forces have been pushing back, largely thanks to Western-supplied anti-tank weapons that proved very effective against the Russian invaders. The advancing forces have also been quick to shift positions and regroup after suffering heavy casualties as a result of persistent Russian attacks.
Nevertheless, Russia is still able to inflict massive losses on Ukrainian units and cause a lot of destruction. The heaviest blow came last month when Ukraine’s army suffered its most significant loss in a single day, with 82 men killed and dozens wounded.
The fall of Avdiivka is a significant setback for Kyiv as it seeks to build up its forces after a bruising battle and decide on a new strategy in a war that’s entering its fourth year. It was also a setback just as the new army chief, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, prepared to announce a significant mobilization to tackle a new offensive against Russia.
Avdiivka’s defenders are now holed up in the sprawling Soviet-era coke plant where a bitter battle for control was staged in June following one of the most bloody and brutal fights of the conflict. Almost all of the town’s pre-war population has fled.
