Situation is complicated: military expert on possibility of Russia's capture of Chasiv Yar by May 9

He said this on Espreso.

"The situation near Chasiv Yar is really complicated. We have known that symbolic dates are important to Russians since the beginning of 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The invaders were constantly trying to adjust some of their ‘great victories’ to certain dates, whether it was New Year's Eve, May 9, or even Putin's birthday. So, yes, indeed, there may be such a target for them," Kovalenko said.

However, as of today, the Russians must at least fulfill basic tasks, the military expert noted.

"We are talking about capturing Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka. Only then will the Russian forces be able to launch more intense offensive actions, especially urban battles in Chasiv Yar. But so far they do not have such opportunities. These settlements are under full or partial control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces," added Kovalenko.

• On April 13, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that he had visited the positions on the Eastern Front. The Russian Federation has significantly intensified its offensive, so decisions were made to strengthen the most problematic defense areas on the eastern front.
• After two days at the front, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Russia is trying to break through the Ukrainian defense west of Bakhmut, reach the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal and capture Chasiv Yar.