June 9 —Russian military forces are reportedly making significant progress towards capturing the strategically vital town of Chasiv Yar in Ukraine, according to the latest updates from both Russian and Ukrainian sources on Sunday.
The town, positioned on elevated terrain approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of Bakhmut, holds strategic importance as a potential staging ground for Russian offensives in the key Ukrainian cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Chasiv Yar’s heightened topography offers a tactical advantage, making it a coveted objective for the Russian military, which seized Bakhmut a year ago following protracted and devastating combat.
The town’s capture could pave the way for further Russian advances into the heart of the Donetsk region.
Ukrainian media outlet Ukrainska Pravda, citing a military source and a blogger, reported that Russian forces had commenced occupation of a district within Chasiv Yar, adjacent to a critical canal.
The source highlighted an alarming increase in shelling activity around the town’s periphery, with over 1,500 shelling incidents recorded over the past week alone.
“Russian troops are employing guided aerial bombs to clear zones along a major road,” the source said, detailing the extensive use of long-range missiles and drones to facilitate the advance and reinforce their positions.
This tactical progression has been corroborated by reports from the Russian military. The 98th Paratrooper Division, via the Telegram messaging app, confirmed that Ukrainian forces are exerting substantial effort to prevent Russian units from crossing the canal and establishing positions in the ‘New’ district on the opposite side.
The division also noted ongoing operations to clear the canal district of resistance. Visual evidence from both sides depicts soldiers navigating through devastated urban landscapes, conducting meticulous searches of buildings to secure the area.
The recent developments are part of a broader pattern of Russian gains on the eastern front. Following the fall of Avdiivka to Russian forces in February, there has been a methodical push forward.
Additionally, a Russian incursion into the northeastern Kharkiv region marked another front in the ongoing conflict, though Ukrainian forces claim to have halted this advance.
Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, had previously warned of a possible Russian offensive aimed at capturing Chasiv Yar by May 9, coinciding with the Soviet victory anniversary in World War Two.
Despite the delay, the current momentum suggests a persistent Russian effort to achieve this objective.
In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy did not specifically mention Chasiv Yar but emphasized the severe challenges facing Ukrainian defenders in nearby regions. He identified the area around Pokrovsk, to the southwest of Chasiv Yar, as the most contested sector.
“This is the toughest area along the entire front line, the one where pressure from the occupiers is the greatest,” Zelenskiy stated.
“Every day, this is the site of the highest number of engagements. Only yesterday, there were more than 40 assaults, and as of this hour today, there have been more than 20.”
As the battle for Chasiv Yar intensifies, the situation on the eastern front remains fluid and perilous. Both sides appear locked in a high-stakes struggle for control, with potential implications for the broader conflict’s trajectory.
The coming days are likely to see continued heavy fighting as Russian forces press their advantage and Ukrainian defenders strive to hold their ground.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members