Ukraine fears it will lose strategic city
OUTGUNNED six to one, Ukraine is desperately trying to retain control of a hilltop Donbas city that holds the key to the country’s east, a front-line commander has said.
“Chasiv Yar is the most important high ground as it gives control and superiority and the chance to capture the Donetsk region,” said Lt Oles Malyarevich, deputy commander of the Achilles strike battalion, speaking by phone between firefights.
The city lies on hills overlooking interlocking river valleys and dominates a road network that links the occupied town of Bakhmut six miles to the east and a string of Ukraine’s “fortress cities” 10 miles to the west.
This week, Russian paratroopers reportedly reached the outskirts of Chasiv Yar. Kyiv has said it believes Vladimir Putin wants to capture the city before Russia’s Victory Day on May 9.
Lt Malyarevich said that unless his men receive resupplies soon, Russia will eventually capture the city.
Kyiv is facing a major shortage of ammo and other weapons, with £48.5billion of military aid held up for weeks by US lawmakers. The House of Representatives passed the bill yesterday, paving the way for it to be signed into law within the next few days, but the damage on the front line has been done. Ukraine’s forces in Chasiv Yar are currently outgunned by a ratio of six to one, said Lt Malyarevich, with the Kremlin manufacturing new weapon systems and bringing in artillery shells from North Korea and drones from Iran.
“The demons have accumulated a huge group of troops and set the task of capturing Chasiv Yar by May 9,” he said.
“The enemy attacks 24/7 with absolute superiority in the air, artillery, drones and manpower.”
But Lt Malyarevich has said his soldiers will keep fighting until the bitter end. “Now is the moment of truth,” he said. “Who is right? The civilised world or the dictators of Russia, China and Iran?” Since a Ukrainian counter-offensive stalled last summer, the momentum has swung behind Russia.
Analysts said that the Ukrainian flop, the decision to deprioritise building trenches and the failure of the West to supply promised weapons have allowed Russia to grab the initiative.
Chasiv Yar is of importance because it can be used as a springboard to capture the rest of the Donbas region.
“The key to Donbas is Sloviansk and the way to this is via Chasiv Yar,” said John Foreman, a former British military attache to Ukraine and Russia. “The Ukrainians know this hence the ferocity in defending Chasiv Yar.” The US-based Institute for the Study of War said that the fall of Chasiv Yar would expose Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka, which it described as the “backbone” of the Ukrainian army’s defence.
“The offensive effort to seize Chasiv Yar offers Russian forces the most immediate prospects for operationally significant advances,” it said.
The fighting has turned Chasiv Yar from a small city of around 12,500 people into a hellscape of smashed buildings, destroyed roads and waterlogged craters. Russian tanks, artillery and missiles relentlessly pound Ukrainian soldiers with missiles and bombs.
“The stakes are incredibly high,” said analyst Mr Foreman. “Russia is now targeting the main line of defence with glide bombs to soften it up. Ukraine lacks air defences to prevent this.”
Glide bombs, which have improved precision, range and power, are one of an array of new weapons developed by Russia to push its advantage.
Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s military commander, appears concerned and has been visiting his forces in Chasiv Yar to boost morale.
The Kremlin has not commented on the alleged May 9 deadline but experts say it is credible that Putin would want to showcase another military victory ahead of his big propaganda day.
‘The enemy attacks 24/7 with absolute superiority. Now is the moment of truth’