Russian forces have reportedly managed to take control of a strategic town in eastern Ukraine as the Kremlin appears to be pushing to make important gains before the billions in military aid approved by the US can reach the Ukrainian frontline.
Footage shared by Russian military bloggers on the messaging platform Telegram seemingly shows their country’s flag flying above war-torn Ocheretyne, located in the partially occupied Donetsk region.
The Russian Defence Ministry has also claimed Ukrainian troops fled Ocheretyne in small groups under heavy fire.
However, the local headquarters of the Ukrainian army maintains the town has not yet fallen, with Russia only capturing some buildings and taking over the southern part of Ocheretyne.
On Tuesday, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s Khortytsia Group of Forces, Nazar Voloshyn, acknowledged the situation in the town was “difficult”.
Ukrainian troops had been forced to retreat from Avdiivka in February, after having put up a months-long resistance.
While Ukraine managed to deal major losses to Russian troops and equipment, the lack of ammunition amid dwindling Western aid and the constant attacks coming from the Russian side led Kyiv to the decision to abandon the area.
Ocheretyne, home prior to the Russian invasion to around 3,000 people, is of key importance as an intersection of important roads and a railway junction vital to the Ukrainian operations in the region.
Russian forces fighting in Donetsk are now around 18 miles away from Pokrovsk, the main garrison city in the area.
Ocheretyne is around 31 miles south of Chasiv Yar, a town targeted by a major Russian military push involving between 20,000 to 25,000 soldiers, according to Ukraine’s eastern military command. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said to believe Moscow wants the city to be captured by May 9, the day in which Russia celebrates WW2 victory day.
These Russian advances are coming hours after the US Congress has finally approved a nearly £50billion aid package for Ukraine.
