The head of the press service of the Khortytsia operational and strategic grouping of troops, Ilya Yevlash, told Radio Liberty that Russian troops are increasing the number of forces in eastern Ukraine and that one of the Russian army's "powerful breakthroughs" to Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Region is currently underway.
According to him, Russian troops consider this settlement to be a key one for continuing their offensive on Kostyantynivka and the Kramatorsk-Slovyansk sector.
"They are gathering very powerful forces, and as of now, this can be considered one of their most powerful breakthroughs to Chasiv Yar... Access to Chasiv Yar will open the way for the enemy to continue their offensive, a springboard for an offensive on Kostyantynivka. And of course, the main target in the Donetsk Region is the Kramatorsk-Slovyansk agglomeration. That is why the enemy spares no effort in seizing the moment - it has been using the tactic of "running where the flow is" for quite some time, looking for weaknesses. And at the slightest opportunity to break through the defence, it reinforces its groups and resorts to assault operations," said Ilya Yevlash.
According to him, several circles of defence have been built up near Chasiv Yar. There are also minefields in this area, both anti-tank and anti-personnel, as well as mounts and anti-tank ramparts to prevent the advance of Russian army heavy equipment.
"We have been preparing for the defence of Chasiv Yar for a long time, even when the enemy managed to capture Bakhmut. Of course, it was clear that we needed to equip additional defence lines, more favourable ones. Since Chasiv Yar was the largest offensive settlement in this direction," Yevlash said.
According to the spokesman, the Russian army is trying to find weaknesses, and in those areas of the front where it manages to break through, the Russian military intensifies assault operations. According to Ilya Yevlash, the main attacks are carried out with mortars, and the use of aviation is also increasing.
"Over the last day in the Bakhmut sector, the enemy used its aviation six times, also launched 52 strikes with its kamikaze drones, fired 659 times at our positions. There were also four combat engagements, during which the enemy lost 100 occupants in killed and wounded and 101 pieces of military weapons and equipment," said Ilya Yevlash.