Russian forces are likely making progress in capturing the strategic eastern Ukrainian city of Chasov Yar, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA, citing statements from both sides in the more than two-year-old conflict.
Chasov Yar is located on a hill about 20 kilometers west of the town of Bakhmut, captured by Russian forces a year ago after months of fighting. Both sides see the city as a potential staging point for Russian forces to advance towards the key cities of Kramatorsk and Slavyansk.
The media “Ukrainian Pravda“ cites a military source and a blogger as saying that Russian forces have captured a neighborhood of the city located east of the canal that runs through it.
„During the last week, there were more than 1,500 shellings on the outskirts of Chasov Yar from the north and from the south,”, the source said. He added that Russian troops are using guided aerial bombs on an important route and “with the support of long-range missiles and drones, they have begun to move forward and build up forces”.
The Russian 98th Airborne Division announced on the Telegram social network that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Ukraine) are "doing everything possible to prevent our forces from crossing the channel and occupying positions on the other side". From there they added that Russian assault units continue to clear the area around the canal.
Video footage released by both sides shows soldiers moving through a virtually destroyed city center and inspecting buildings.
Russian forces have been gradually advancing on the eastern front since the town of Avdeevka fell under their control in February. They have also launched a cross-border incursion into parts of northeastern Kharkiv Oblast, although the Ukrainian side claims their progress has been halted.
Last month, VSU Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Sirsky said Moscow's forces had hoped to capture Chasov Yar before May 9 and World War II Victory Day ceremonies.
President Volodymyr Zelensky in his latest video address did not mention Chasov Yar, but said that the area of the city of Pokrovsk, located in the southwest, remains the most difficult to defend.
„This is the most difficult area along the entire front line, where the pressure of the occupier is strongest. Every day it is the direction with the highest number of skirmishes. Only yesterday there were more than 40 assaults there, and today by this hour alone there are more than 20”, the Ukrainian president said.
Meanwhile, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced that Russian forces, led by the Chechen special forces “Akhmat“, had taken control of the Ukrainian border village of Rizhevka (Ryzhivka in Ukrainian) in the northern Sumy region, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Kadyrov, who has led the South Caucasian Russian republic of Chechnya since 2007, said that “Akhmat“ led the Russian forces who took control of the settlement on the other side of the border with the Russian Kursk region.
In a comment published on the Telegram social network, Kadyrov stated that the “large-scale planned advance” has resulted in “significant losses to the Ukrainian side, which was forced to retreat”.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has not issued a statement on the subject. There is no comment from the Ukrainian military either. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the report.
A representative of the local authorities denied that Rizhevka was captured, reported France Press.
Earlier this month, the command of “Ahmat“ stated, quoted by TASS, that his forces are located in the Russian border region of Belgorod - east of the settlement, which is said to have been captured.
Last month, Kadyrov said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that tens of thousands of his soldiers were ready to fight for Russia in Ukraine and that a total of 43,500 fighters had already served in Moscow's war against the neighboring country.< /p>
In recent weeks, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have warned that there is a build-up of Russian forces around Sumy Oblast, preparing for hostilities.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his country is working on a new agreement with Germany to provide support against the Russian invasion that began more than two years ago, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
„We are preparing a new agreement for Ukraine with European partners, specifically with Germany, for additional support measures”, Zelensky said in his evening video address.
He did not provide details on the nature of the potential agreement. However, the Ukrainian president added that his country is “thoroughly preparing a bilateral agreement with the US in the field of security”.
Zelensky already announced in late April that Kiev and Washington were working on a bilateral security agreement to provide long-term support to Ukraine.
Ukraine has already concluded similar agreements with Great Britain, Germany and France, which provide financial and military assistance for the coming years. However, no country has given security guarantees. The agreement with the US is expected to change this, DPA notes.