The armed forces of Russia are conducting powerful offensive actions in the direction of the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region. Why do the Russians want to capture it?
Chasiv Yar, with a population of about 14,000 people, is located between Bakhmut, which was occupied by the Russians last year, and Kostyantynivka, which remains under the control of the Ukrainian authorities.
A year ago, when the battle for Bakhmut was in full swing, it was Chasiv Yar that was the most important logistical center of the Ukrainian army, the "road of life" passed through it - the last route through which it was possible to supply the garrison of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in an almost surrounded city.
In the summer and fall of 2023, the Ukrainian army managed to push back the Russians on the flanks of Bakhmut, but at the end of the fall and winter, they managed to launch a counterattack in this direction.
PHOTO AUTHOR, REUTERS
Moving from the direction of the Berkhiv Reservoir and the urban development of Bakhmut, the Russian army in November was able to seize the northwestern outskirts of the city - the village of Khromov and began to advance on the neighboring villages - Ivanivske and Bohdanivka. As of the beginning of March of this year, hostilities are already taking place directly within these settlements. If Russia is able to capture them, then it will come very close to its goal - the Temporal Ravine.
Ilya Yevlash, spokesman for the Khortytsya operational-strategic group of troops (OSU), notes that the Russian troops are trying to break through the defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and are preparing for assault operations.
"They are accumulating their very powerful forces, and as of now this can be considered one of their powerful thrusts at Chasiv Yar," he said.
"The enemy does not spare his efforts, he tries to take advantage of the moment - for quite a long time he uses the tactic of "running where it pours", looking for weak points. And at the slightest opportunity to break through the defense somewhere, he strengthens his groups and resorts to assault actions."
Konstantin Mashovets, a military analyst of the "Information Resistance" group, draws attention to the fact that in recent days, the Russian command has decided to introduce additional forces and means into the battle in this direction, seeing a chance for the success of the operation.
In particular, on the southwestern flank from Bakhmut, the Russians brought units of the 11th separate amphibious assault brigade into battle. They are supposed to help capture the village of Ivanivske, which is located on the Bakhmut-Kostyantynivka road 2.5 km from Chasovoy Yar.
In general, the expert says that the battles in this direction continue "with variable success of the parties". That is, in some area the Russians manage to push the Ukrainians out of position, in another - the opposite.
Fortified fortress?
PHOTO AUTHOR, REUTERS Photo caption, The broken high-rise buildings of Chasovoy Yar. Russia attacks the city with artillery and multi-ton aerial bombs.
At the same time, the spokesman of the "Khortytsia" OSUV Yevlash emphasizes that Chasiv Yar is protected by several lines of defense. In particular, anti-tank and anti-personnel minefields, embankments and anti-tank ramparts are installed here to prevent the advance of heavy equipment.
"Preparations for the defense of Chasovoy Yar have been going on for a long time, even when the enemy was able to capture Bakhmut. Of course, it was clear that it is necessary to equip additional lines of defense, which are more profitable."
It should be noted that Chasiv Yar has an advantageous geographical location from a military point of view - the city is located on a hill, in the east and south it has a water obstacle - the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas channel and a number of large ponds.
Even before the full-scale war, the headquarters of the joint forces operation (JOF) was located here and powerful defensive fortifications were prepared.
This actually gives an understanding of why the Russian command is now using its most trained and professional units – the airborne assault troops – to capture the settlement.
According to Yevlash, the Russian authorities consider Chasiv Yar as a key point for continuing the offensive on Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk and Slovyansk.
"Access to Chasovoy Yar will open the way for the enemy to extend their offensive actions, a bridgehead for the offensive on Kostyantynivka. Of course, the main goal in the Donetsk region is the Kramatorsk-Slovyan agglomeration."
In addition, military analysts say that the capture of Chasovoy Yar will force Ukrainian units to withdraw from the villages of Klishchiivka and Andriivka south of Bakhmut. They were released last year during the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces. If the Russians cut the logistical arteries in the rear of the Ukrainian army near Chasovoy Yar and Kostyantynivka, then there will be no further sense in keeping these territories.
