KYIV: Ukraine said on Thursday its forces were fighting fierce battles near Chasiv Yar, a strategic hilltop town whose capture would give Moscow a powerful foothold in the eastern Donetsk region.
The intensification of fighting coincides with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s arrival in Italy for meetings with G7 leaders, where he seeks additional aid to bolster his country’s defense capabilities against Russian aggression.
According to the Ukrainian military, two combat engagements are currently underway near Ivanivske, a small town located just outside Chasiv Yar. The capture of Ivanivske would potentially grant Russian forces strategic leverage for launching further assaults on key civilian hubs within the industrial territory.
Amidst the ongoing clashes, Ukrainian forces are facing challenges in defending the area, with reports indicating the utilization of drones, artillery, and manpower by Russian troops. Despite Russia’s continued efforts to gain control of Chasiv Yar, Ukrainian defenders remain steadfast in their resistance.
Meanwhile, in the Donetsk region, one civilian casualty has been reported near the flashpoint town of Pokrovsk. The Donetsk region has witnessed sustained fighting over the past two years, but recent Russian incursions in the northeastern Kharkiv region have expanded the theater of conflict.
Russian gains in Kharkiv have prompted a significant exodus, with over 11,670 people evacuating the area, as confirmed by Kharkiv’s governor, Oleg Synegubov. Evacuation efforts have been initiated near the town of Zolochiv.
Russia’s territorial control now extends to approximately 18 percent of Ukrainian territory, including parts of the southern Kherson region, which Russia annexed nearly two years ago.
A 40-year-old man was killed by Russian shelling in the Kherson region, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday, while Russian-installed authorities in the region meanwhile said one civilian was killed by Ukrainian forces.
