Ukraine says 'fierce battles' under way near key town
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Ukrainian servicemen fire a self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops, near the town of Chasiv Yar in Ukraine's Donetsk region.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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KYIV - Ukrainian forces said on Feb 27 “fierce battles” were under way near the key town of Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine where Russia “is actively trying to advance”.
“Fierce battles are already taking place on the outskirts” of Ivanivske and Bogdanivka, army spokesman Ilya Yevlash said in televised comments.
Chasiv Yar is located near Bakhmut, which fell to Russian forces in May 2023.
A Russian advance in that area would ramp up the pressure on Kramatorsk, the last major city in the Donbas region still controlled by Ukraine which is coming under increasingly frequent bombardment.
“The enemy is using reserves and is trying to reinforce its troops” with assault units, Mr Yevlash said.
Ukrainian forces fell back on Chasiv Yar after losing Bakhmut. Ivanivske and Bogdanivka are only a few kilometres away.
The town only has a few hundred inhabitants left from 12,000 before the war and is regularly targeted by Russian forces.
It is located some 25km from Kramatorsk, Ukraine’s main administrative hub for the Donetsk region.
In a different part of the front line, Ukraine confirmed on Feb 26 and 27 it had retreated from the villages of Lastochkyne, Sieverne and Stepove near Avdiivka – a town Russia claimed control of this month. AFP
