Even losing side has gains, Ukraine's main task is to win war — expert on Marinka

He spoke about this on Espreso TV.

Regarding the capture of Marinka by Russia, the expert said: "If it stops in the form it is now, as Bakhmut was taken, we have spoken about betrayal, but there was no betrayal, as Russia still cannot move beyond Bakhmut, if Russian forces do not move beyond Marinka, if they even take Avdiivka, but do not move further, then it will only be a partial success for them."

Chernyk emphasized that Ukrainians should understand that even the losing side can have partial successes in major wars.

"It is extremely important to win the battle, this is very important, and wars cannot be lost. The Germans realized that they were losing World War II after Stalingrad, and at the turn of the 44th and 45th years (of the last century - ed.) they organized a brilliant offensive operation and broke through the Allied battle lines 100 kilometres ahead, of course, the weather helped because the aviation could not work, but it did not help them in the war," he explained.

The expert also added: "I am 100% sure that in the historical context we will win this terrible war, but the question is when and under what circumstances. There is no optimism that this will happen tomorrow."

Situation in Marinka in eastern Ukraine

On Monday, 25 December, the Armed Forces of Ukraine denied information that the Russian army had allegedly captured Marinka in Donetsk region, as reported by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to his President Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said that Ukrainian troops were still in the northern part of Marinka.

Secretary of the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said that a small part of Marinka in Donetsk region is under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but that Russia has almost destroyed the city.

ISW analysts suggest that the potential capture of Marinka does not predict a significant operational advance for Russian forces.