Ukraine has successfully stopped the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region that began a few weeks ago, but the situation in Donbass is different and the Ukrainian army continues to lose territory there, writes Le Monde.
The Ukrainian armed forces have withdrawn from the Chasov Yar canal, as they are located on the western bank of the water supply canal built in the 1950s. This ten-metre-high obstacle will be a difficult tactical challenge for the Russian army. kyiv claims it can hold this line “for a long time”.
Thanks to its elevated position, Chasov Yar, which had a population of 12,000 before the invasion, blocked the Russian offensive on other cities and towns in Donetsk Oblast and the region.
In recent weeks, the intensity and scale of the Russian army’s attacks in Donbas have increased. For example, on the outskirts of Toretsk, the Russian army achieved successes, and Ukrainian military analysts note that this was due to mistakes by the Ukrainian military command. “This is the result of a serious mistake by the command, which ordered the simultaneous rotation of two brigades without coordination. As a result, the adversary, who saw the operation through its reconnaissance drones, took advantage of it,” Oleksandr Kovalenko noted.
A possible breakthrough from Toretsk could allow the Russians to attack the southern flank of Chasov Yar, making its defence much more difficult.
The inability of the Ukrainian armed forces to block the Russian advance in the Donbass is explained by the asymmetry of the means used in that theatre of operations. Russian firepower is much more destructive, despite the resumption of Western ammunition supplies to Ukraine.
The Russian army is attacking Ukrainian positions with 250-500kg glide bombs capable of destroying strong bunkers and razing entire cities. Ukrainian soldiers say Western military aid is the most important thing for survival on the front.
