Putin's troops have targeted Chasiv Yar. The location of the city is strategically important. Ukraine takes delivery of the tanks.
Chassiv Yar - The Ukrainian city of Chassiv Yar is considered to be crucial in Ukraine's defensive battle against Russia. Russian forces have been targeting the former industrial city for weeks. Ukrainian soldiers and officials have warned in the past that the loss of the Ukrainian mountain town of Chasiv Yar could be catastrophic for Ukraine.
The city is located west of the city of Bakhmut on a hill. Russian troops have been trying to advance on the eastern edge of the city for weeks. Ukrainian troops are said to have set a trap for the Russian army with a tank barrier,
Forbes
reported .
Ukraine uses bridge to fire at Russian invaders
At an important intersection in the city, Ukraine has set up a bottleneck for Russian troops approaching from the occupied village of Ivanivske. According to
Forbes
, the bridge would allow the troops to reach Chassiv Yar through a forest.
On the bridge there is an opportunity for Ukrainian units to prevent Russian troops from entering the area, provided Ukraine can concentrate enough firepower on the bridge.
On Wednesday (April 10), according to Forbes, Ukrainian troops managed to hit at least one Russian BMP fighting vehicle while crossing the bridge. Several burned-out tanks and vehicles can now be seen around the bridge.
Ukrainian commander in chief: “All enemy attempts to enter the city have failed”
The commander in chief in the former industrial city, Olexandr Syrskyj, recently stated on Telegram that the city would be held. “All enemy attempts to enter the city have failed,” Syrsky wrote. The Russian intelligence service
RIA
had previously reported that Russian soldiers had already entered the outskirts of the city.
Before Russia's Ukraine War began, 12,000 people lived in Chasiv Yar and the city was already under fire in Russian attacks in 2022. According to
the
Reuters
news agency , Mayor Serhiy Tschaus said that the situation in Chasiv Yar had never been so difficult. In February, the city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine fell. However,
according to
Forbes
, the Ukrainian troops were able to withdraw from there without suffering a major collapse in their defensive line. This is not the case in Chassiv Yar.
Chasiv Yar is considered crucial: the loss of the city would clear the way for Russia in Donbass
On the Substack platform, the account
Frontelligence Insight
published an analysis of the Battle for the City on Monday (April 8),
Focus
reported . The battle for Chassiv Yar was called a “litmus test” – a decisive test. If Ukraine were unable to hold the city, Frontelligence writes, the Russian army would have a direct route to important cities in Donbas.
He cited the cities of Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka as examples. The town of Kostiantynivka is only ten kilometers away from Chasiv Yar. The city of Kramatorsk is one of the last major cities under Ukrainian control in Donbass.
Ukraine relies on support from Western states for defense
The water canal and the bridges that the Ukrainian troops are now using for defense pose a difficulty for Russia. According to
Forbes
, whether the Russian troops continue to fall into the Ukrainian army's tank trap also depends on the available ammunition resources of the Ukrainian brigades away. And thus also from the support of Western countries.
Ukrainian troops also allegedly tried to destroy the bridge, which was not an easy task due to its nature,
Forbes
reported . So far this has not been successful and the Ukrainian brigade has had to continue to rely on the trap through the eye of the needle to defend the tactically important city.
(pav)