Is Chasiv Yar withdrawal in favor of Ukraine really the approach

Ukraine announced on July 4 that its troops had withdrawn from the Kanal community in Chasiv Yar, a strategically influential town in Donetsk Oblast, days after intense, bloody clashes began in early April.

Speaking on nationwide TV, Nazar VoloshinThe spokesman for the Khortytsia forces team said that the decision was taken because Ukrainian defensive positions in the community were destroyed, and commanders took a positive approach to their removal. better preserved marks,

He said, “After the enemy penetrated it became impractical to capture the Canal neighborhood as it threatened the lives and health of our soldiers and destroyed the positions of our defenders.”

Satellite photos obtained via crowd-sourced tracking carrier DeepState show the once-populated Kanal community completely destroyed.

What's the larger image?

Russia’s attacks lasted for months Chasiv yaar It’s all part of the grinding, gradual and costly progress in Donetsk Oblast.

last generation, as the sector’s attention focused on the Kremlin’s ancient – ​​and ultimately unsuccessful – offensive into Kharkiv Oblast, Russian troops were constantly Creating a little positive aspect in Donetsk OblastWhich remains Moscow’s number one goal.

Since the fall of Bakhmut in May 2023 and the fall of Avdiivka on this day in February, Russian forces captured a nearby village and a position similar to Chasiv Yar.

Located on hills developed as natural defensive structures, the city of Chasiv Yar boasts the best level within the division, being a strategic level for any army that wants to gain bonuses.

The city is bisected by the Siversky Donets-Donbass Canal in the east, which forms a barrier between the canal microdistrict and the remains of the city.

Throughout the spring, Kievan forces took control, keeping Russian troops out of the city. on 27th June Ukrainian army reported It had driven out the Russian forces that had entered the Canal community.

The fighting has been brutal – according to Voloshin, Russia continued to shell Chasiv Yar heavily, including from multiple rocket launchers, including the TOS-1 Solntsepyok.

“It is a formidable weapon that fires a thermobaric warhead,” said Ukraine’s 24th Independent Mechanized Brigade. Redeployed to strengthen the security of Chasiv YarOn June 26, a video was shared showing the city under attack from Russia.

What does the withdrawal in fact heartless?

In a statement from Ukraine’s 24th Mechanized Brigade communications unit, a soldier told Kyiv Free that the withdrawal has become critical as it is becoming more difficult to resupply men and material into the Kanal community.

He said, “For us, it means we got our logistics right because our logistics in that district were very poor, and that part of the battlefield was very difficult to maintain.”

“It was very important for us to capture this area, but it was more important not to lose people.”

He pointed out that Russia would face similar problems if it attempted to cross the canal while keeping the two armies apart, and that certainly one of Ukraine’s priorities now would be “moving their logistics from their pristine position.” Must be destroyed.

“The enemy is also trying to regroup and we will wait to see in which direction they will continue their attack,” he said.

Retired army officer and security expert Viktor Kavliuk informed Kyiv Free that withdrawal from the Kanal community “will have no strategic consequences.”

Kavliuk said Russia’s move was also an attempt to protect part of the Russian team attacking Toretsk, located about 22 kilometers south of Chasiv Yar.

Ukrainian military reported an increase in Russian attacks on 18 June Toretsk Nearing a “long lull” in fighting within the department.

Over the next few days news came that Russian forces were Attack on Chasiv Yaar By way of Toretsk.

Kavliuk echoed the Ukrainian military sequence that its forces had no possibility of retreating from the Kanal community, with the defensive positions closest to it “having been completely destroyed.”

“The (Russian) 98th Airborne Division brought into battle all three of its regiments – the 217th, 299th and 331st, which made it possible to significantly increase efforts in this direction and take full control of the Canal neighborhood,” he said.

“Units of the 11th Airborne Assault Brigade and parts of the 102nd Regiment of the 150th Division also took part in the attacks,” he said.

Commenting on why the US aid package approved more than two months ago did not help stem the flow into Chasiv Yar, Kavliuk said US aid would no longer prevent the effective destruction of the Kanal community.

He said that not only does it take haste to prepare and send support, but it is also important to have trained manpower to accomplish it.

“The (Ukrainian) Defense Forces have no more than 14,000 people in the area,” Kavliuk said, summarizing the situation around Chasiv Yar and neighboring Klischiivka, Andreyevka and Kurdyumivka.

“A Russian group of 48,000 men is advancing on Chasiv Yar. More than 6,000 men have been allocated to Klichivka, Andreyevka and Kurdyumivka.”

What occurs after?

Much depends on Ukraine’s ability to strengthen and bookend its ancient defensive lines, which deserve attention.

If Russia were able to capture the city, it would have a significant impact on the fighting in Donetsk Oblast.

Taking Chasiv Yaar is very powerful Russia’s attack in the east is betterAnd the deployment of elite Russian airborne troops is proof of how influential it is to the Kremlin.

If Russia captured Chasiv Yar, it would gain control of key Ukrainian supply routes, severely hampering the department’s operations.

In the long run, the autumn of Chasiv Yar would subject the last Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk Oblast – Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk – to heavy ultimatums from Russian forces.

What used to be Chasiv Yar like sooner than the full-scale invasion?

Chasiv Yar was home to approximately 12,000 people, a town whose roots date back to the late nineteenth century, when a factory was established to make refractory clothing from the clay found in abundance in the department.

By this day in April, only about 700 people lived in the city. All the youth have been taken out on the last day, leaving behind most of the older citizens resigned who are unenthusiastic or incapable of losing.

are talking To BBC Ukraine in April, Serhiy Chaus, head of the city’s military leadership, said they faced dire conditions without access to energy, water or fuel, as well as constant shelling, leaving 80% of the condominium structures seriously damaged. Got damaged.