A representative of the Ukrainian army, Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn, in a commentary to Politico on Tuesday expressed the opinion that if the Russian occupiers manage to capture Chasiv Yar, it would give them the opportunity to launch an offensive on other cities in Donetsk region, UNN reports.
If the Russian occupiers manage to capture this city, they will have the opportunity to launch an offensive on Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk
"These cities are the last stronghold of Donetsk region, which is under the control of Ukraine," he added.
"This is the dominant height in the region, and its control will allow the Russian invaders, if they achieve it, to significantly simplify the advance in the direction of Kostiantynivka and the direction of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk," Voloshyn said.
The Kremlin ordered that Chasiv Yar should be seized before May 9 - the day Russian celebrates the Soviet victory in World War II and a sacred holiday for Russian military propaganda that desperately needs a big victory on the war front, Voloshyn added.
Voloshin told Politico that, despite the constant attacks, the Russians were unlikely to reach their goal. However, he stressed that "Kyiv needs Western air defense, F16 jets and other weapons to be able to change the situation around Bakhmut and Avdiivka, where the Russians are taking advantage of Kyiv's lack of ammo and Moscow's air superiority," the publication writes.