Russian Troops Capture Several Villages in Eastern Ukraine as Ukrainian Forces Await American Military Aid
In a concerning development, Russian troops have captured or entered around a half-dozen villages on Ukraine’s eastern front over the past week. This highlights the deteriorating situation for outgunned and outnumbered Ukrainian forces as they await much-needed American military aid.
General Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine’s top commander, expressed the worsening situation on Sunday as his troops retreated from two villages west of Avdiivka, a Ukrainian stronghold in the east that Russia seized earlier this year. The Russian advances come as Congress recently approved $60 billion in military aid for Ukraine, with President Biden vowing to expedite the shipment of arms.
The most challenging situation at the moment is around the villages west of Avdiivka, where Russia has deployed up to four brigades with the goal of advancing towards Ukrainian military logistical hubs. Ukrainian forces have been forced to retreat from Berdychi and Semenivka, the last two villages in the area not yet under full Russian control.
Further complicating matters, Russian forces have managed to break through the northern part of the defensive line and advance into the village of Ocheretyne, which sits on a road leading to the city of Pokrovsk. The Institute for the Study of War reported that as many as 25,000 Russian troops are involved in an offensive on Chasiv Yar, a town that has faced relentless attacks in recent weeks.
Military experts warn of tough weeks ahead as Russia prepares for a new large-scale offensive. Ukraine is eagerly awaiting the first $1 billion of American military aid, which includes essential supplies like artillery shells. President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the urgent need for these supplies to arrive quickly to halt the Russian advances.
During a visit to Kyiv, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted the consequences of delays in delivering military assistance, stating that Ukrainians are paying the price on the battlefield. The situation remains critical as Ukrainian forces brace for further Russian aggression while awaiting crucial support from their Western allies.
