Russian Forces Capture Chasiv Yar Amid Intensified Fighting in Eastern Ukraine

On Thursday, Russia declared that its troops have successfully seized the city of Chasiv Yar, located in the Donetsk region, following over a year of heavy fighting for control in this contentious area of eastern Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced via its Telegram channel that the city, referred to as Chasov Yar in Ukrainian, has been "liberated" by the Southern troops group. Notably, before the onset of the war in April 2024, Chasiv Yar had a population of approximately 12,000 residents. By February of this year, Russian forces reportedly held sway over 90% of the city. The battle for Chasiv Yar is significant, with Russian military officials claiming that it involved perhaps the largest elimination of enemy forces in the history of their military operations in the region, with reports indicating thousands of enemy personnel were destroyed. A military source, cited by TASS, remarked on the scale of the operations, stressing that the areas around the city had been transformed into heavily fortified zones. The successful capture of Chasiv Yar denotes a substantial shift in the tactical landscape for Ukrainian defenses. Igor Kimanovski, an advisor to the leadership of the self-proclaimed Peoples Republic of Donetsk (PRD)—annexed by Russia in September 2022—indicated that this capture could lead to the disintegration of Ukrainian defensive lines toward Konstantinovka. Chasiv Yar is strategically located merely 5 kilometers northeast of Konstantinovka, a critical city that forms a key part of the Ukrainian defense south of the strongholds in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. The loss of Chasiv Yar may further compromise Ukraine's military position as the struggle for dominance in the Donetsk region escalates. Stay updated with the latest developments by following news outlets and apps designed to deliver real-time information on this ongoing conflict. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2