The Russian Ministry of Defense announced today that troops from the “South“ group have captured the city of Chasov Yar in Donetsk region as part of offensive operations in the Kramatorsk-Druzhkovka direction, News.bg reports.
Chasov Yar is located on a strategically important height, the highest point in the area, with an elevation of 247 meters. Its location on hilly terrain makes it a natural fortress and a serious obstacle on the way to the Ukrainian cities of Kramatorsk and Slavyansk, key for the defense of Donbass.
Russian forces launched an offensive on the city in the spring of 2023. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrsky, stated that the Russian military leadership has set itself the goal of capturing Chasov Yar by May 9, 2024.
The Ukrainian side has not yet officially confirmed the loss of the city, and independent sources have not yet been able to establish full Russian control over it.
If confirmed, the capture of Chasov Yar would have serious consequences for the Ukrainian defense line in the Donetsk region. This would open the way for a further offensive against key industrial and logistics centers in the region.