Russia concentrates forces in Eastern Ukraine amid push for Donetsk breakthrough

Russian forces gather around Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine, intensifying efforts for a strategic advance in Donetsk region, says Ukrainian official

A Ukrainian official said Friday that Russia is amassing significant forces around Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine, aiming to achieve a breakthrough in the Donetsk region.

According to Illia Yevlash, spokesperson for the operational group overseeing the eastern front line, Russian forces are focusing on a powerful push towards the critical strategic city to the west of Bakhmut, captured by Moscow last May.

The objective is to advance toward Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.

Ukrainian forces, engaged in combat against Russian attempts to advance in the Bakhmut direction, report facing a substantial Russian offensive over the past three weeks. They are encountering continuous attacks as Russian troops launch successive waves of infantry assaults and target them with various artillery and drones.

In the ongoing full-scale war now in its third year, Russian forces are using overwhelming amounts of artillery and troop numbers to try to breach Ukrainian defensive lines at specifically targeted locations.

Building damaged in St. Petersburg

Meanwhile, on Saturday morning in Russia’s St Petersburg, two buildings were damaged and residents were evacuated following reports of a loud explosion that shattered windows.

St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov mentioned “an incident” occurring in the city’s northeastern district of Krasnogvardeyskiy. Although no casualties were reported, residents were evacuated from their apartments. Beglov did not provide details on the cause or nature of the incident.

Russian media sources suggested that the incident might have been caused by a downed Ukrainian drone allegedly heading towards a nearby fuel depot. However, there has been no official confirmation from Russian authorities or state media.

Source: Newsroom

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