(Dan Tri) – Russia is deploying forces to try to surround the city of Chasiv Yar, while Ukraine is still waiting for aid from the US.
Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery toward Russian forces in Donetsk (Photo: Reuters).
The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed how the Russian army approached the city of Chasiv Yar.
Capturing Chasiv Yar would allow Russian forces to control higher ground and target cities further west.
In April, Ukraine’s military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Russia wanted to control Chasiv Yar before Victory Day on May 9.
Chasiv Yar is located in the Donbass industrial zone, which includes Donetsk and Lugansk oblasts.
Chasiv Yar would open up a position for Russian forces to launch offensive operations against Druzhkivka and Kostyantynivka, which form the fortress belt of the cities of Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in Donetsk.
Chasiv Yar location on the map (Photo: Ukrainian Weekly).
ISW said on April 30 that for the first time in several days, Russian forces failed to make any progress in the area around Avdiivka, which was controlled by Moscow in February after fierce fighting.
The Ukrainian General Staff said Kiev’s forces repelled 47 Russian attacks in the Avdiivka direction and 57 attacks in the Bakhmut direction, a figure much higher than the attacks in the Chasiv Yar direction.
`It may indicate that Russian forces are somewhat slowing down the pace of attack around Avdiivka while attacking around Chasiv Yar,` the Ukrainian General Staff added.
The Ukrainian army used Chasiv Yar as an assembly center and fire support base.
Russian forces are taking advantage of Ukraine’s lack of manpower and ammunition while Kiev waits for a $61 billion military aid package recently approved by the United States.
`I hope we receive artillery shells soon,` Oleh Shyriaiev, commander of Ukraine’s 225th Independent Assault Battalion fighting near Chasiv Yar, told Reuters, describing his unit as being nearly overwhelmed.
Retired Australian Major General Mick Ryan predicts the coming months will show whether Ukraine can accept some of Russia’s tactical advances while still preventing them from controlling the entire Donbass region, including the Donetsk and Donetsk provinces.
`The current battlefield situation is very bad but not dire for Ukraine,` Mr. Ryan commented, and said that in case Russia attacks strongly before US military aid is delivered, `it is possible
If it captures Chasiv Yar, Moscow will gain fire control over important Ukrainian supply routes in the region.
