The Russian occupiers have captured the village of Vodyanoe in the Donetsk region, UNIAN reported, referring to information on the DeepState Telegram channel. “The line of contact near Verbovoe is being clarified,” the message says.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also reported that the Russians had advanced west of Avdeevka, including towards the village of Vodyanoe. The Russian army is making progress in an important part of the Donetsk region: in the direction of Chasov Yar. Ukrainian military officer Vladimir Chernyak revealed to “Kiev 24” that the Russians have an order to capture the settlement and are moving towards the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Capturing Chasov Yar would give the Russian army a huge advantage. At the moment, however, Ukrainian forces are repelling the enemy's assaults and holding their positions. Ukrainian troops are now doing everything possible to prevent the enemy from approaching the city.
According to Chernyak, the Russian army has no restrictions on the use of artillery and manpower – unlike Kiev. When Putin gives the political order to capture the city, the enemy directs all its resources in that direction.
Against this background, White House spokesman John Kirby said the Joe Biden administration would continue to look for ways to provide Ukraine with “emergency support” — while the $60 billion package continues to be blocked by Republicans in Congress. The White House acknowledges that Ukrainian commanders on the ground must make tough decisions about how to conserve ammunition and hold their ground. Kiev is experiencing a critical shortage of projectiles and certain weapons.
Russia used more than 3,000 guided aerial bombs, 600 drones and 400 missiles against Ukraine in March, President Volodymyr Zelensky said against this background, Reuters reported. Russia has stepped up its campaign of long-range airstrikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the past two weeks, destroying another part of the system already damaged by previous Russian bombings. Separately, Russia has increased its use of air-dropped guided bombs in frontline areas in recent months. They are dropped from military aircraft located in Russian-controlled territory and dive towards their targets at high speed.