In a rare admission, Ukraine has confirmed the retreat of its forces from the battered town of Marinka in the eastern Donbas region.
General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s top military commander, acknowledged the loss on Tuesday, dispelling earlier denials by Ukrainian officials.
“There is nothing controversial about the fact that Ukrainian soldiers have stepped back to the outskirts of the town of Marinka,” said General Zaluzhnyi during a press conference, addressing the retreat.
The town, visibly devastated after years of intense fighting, fell into Russian hands, marking Ukraine’s first major loss since May.
The Kremlin’s claim of capturing Marinka on December 25 has been substantiated by video evidence showing the town in ruins.
Pro-Russia rebel forces in Donetsk celebrated the conquest with a commemorative stamp, featuring a swallow symbolising “rebirth and renewal.”
General Zaluzhnyi defended the strategic withdrawal, emphasising the nature of war and the need for adaptive military tactics.
Analysts suggest that Marinka’s capture by Russia allows for a shift in their focus towards stronger Ukrainian forces in the south, impacting both morale and international confidence in Ukraine’s military efforts.
