No Russian army in Chasiv Yar - Khortytsia grouping of troops

Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn, spokesman for the Khortytsia operational and strategic grouping of troops, said on Espreso.

"Russia is putting pressure in the Bakhmut sector. The situation around the town of Chasiv Yar is difficult, but the Ukrainian Defense Forces are in full control of the situation. There is no Russian army in the town. After massive artillery shelling and air strikes, the enemy is deploying armored vehicles and trying to throw in its advanced assault groups to drive our units from their positions. Russia wants to have at least some tactical success on the battlefield," he said.

Voloshyn spoke about the forces and means that the Russian army has concentrated in this area.

"Both Russian cannon artillery and MLRS are working here quite densely, on a regular basis. The enemy also uses aviation, which causes damage with guided bombs, destroying the town of Chasiv Yar and its civilian infrastructure. According to our information, Russian paratroopers, in particular the 317th Brigade of the Russian Airborne Troops, are located opposite this section. In addition to them, there are various units that number about 25,000 troops. I want to emphasize that these troops are not the only ones storming and reaching the positions of Chasiv Yar. A certain number of personnel have gathered and are dispersed in different parts of the area," added the lieutenant colonel.

• On April 21, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reported to Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the situation in the hottest areas of the front, the Russian losses, and the country's air defense.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that by May 9, 2024, the Russian army plans to capture Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region. The Russian Federation wants to launch an offensive as early as June.