Russia is determined to seize a key frontline city in a matter of days, after a direct order from the Kremlin itself. Vladimir Putin wants his country’s forces to capture Chasiv Yar as a major propaganda win to coincide with Russia‘s Victory Day celebrations that commemorate the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II on May 9.
Russia has poured thousands of men into the increasingly bloody fight in Chasiv Yar. Khortytsia Group of Forces’ spokesperson Nazar Voloshyn told Politico that capturing Chasiv Yar will allow Russia to launch offensives against other cities in Donetsk, including Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
These cities are seen as “the last strongholds” of the region still under Ukrainian control. This comes as high-ranking Ukrainian military officials have admitted that the 620-mile frontline in the war could collapse in the summer.
The grim prediction, reported in Politico, revealed that Ukrainian officers “privately accept that more territorial losses are inevitable this summer” and the only question is how much land they will lose.
According to the assessments, Russia “has never been closer to its goals” in the war while Ukranian officers fear “the nation of Ukraine as it currently exists could be consigned to the past”.
The senior officers fear a Russian onslaught in the summer since the Kremlin is “ready to accept huge casualties” on its side. On Wednesday, the BBC confirmed that Russia‘s military death toll in Ukraine has now passed the 50,000 mark, due to the country’s “meat-grinder strategy”.
The Ukrainian officials also fear sinking morale among the country’s forces, which is exacerbated by a shortage of supplies.
An estimated 650,000 men of fighting age have fled Ukraine by smuggling themselves across the border.
This increase is set to rise after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a mobilisation, bill on Tuesday which would allow for the conscription of hundreds of thousands more Ukrainians.
Last week, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky wrote on his Telegram channel that the situation on the eastern front has “significantly deteriotated”. President Zelensky also said: “We are trying to find some way not to retreat.”
Ukraine says it needs at least two dozen Patriot air-defense systems to protect troops on the front lines and defend Kharkiv, the country’s biggest city after Kyiv.
For months, the US Congress has refused to pass $61bn (£49bn) in aid, leaving Ukraine to fight with severe ammunition shortages.
Tyler Mitchell