Troops Withdraw From Three Villages In Eastern Region, Ukrainian Military Commander: The Situation On The Front Line Is Getting Worse

President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian military commander Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi. (Wikimedia Commons/President Of Ukraine)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian Military Commander Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Sunday his crowd-loss troops had withdrawn to a new position west of three villages in the eastern region of the country, where Russia was significantly concentrated in several locations.

Colonel General Syrskyi's remarks reflect the deteriorating position of Ukraine in the eastern region, which Kyiv hopes to stabilize after receiving US arms shipments based on US$61 billion worth of aid packages approved this week.

"The situation at the front line is getting worse," Syrskyi wrote on the Telegram app.

The statement described the "difficultest" area as west of occupied Maryinka and northwest of Avdivka, the city captured by Russian forces in February.

Colonel General Syrskyi said Kyiv forces had taken new positions west of Berdychi and Semenivka villages, both north of Avdivka, and Novomykhailivka, further south near Maryinka City.

"In general, the enemy achieved certain tactical successes in the region, but was unable to get operational benefits," he said, adding Russia had deployed four brigades to carry out the attack.

Meanwhile, the newly rested Ukrainian brigade was rotated in the area to replace the units suffering losses, he said.

However, his statement did not state the status of Novobakhmutivka, another village near Berdychi, which the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Sunday had been seized by its troops.

Moscow forces have slowly stepped forward since seizing the city of Avdivka's fort, taking advantage of a shortage of artillery shells and troops on the Ukrainian side.

The online battlefield maps generated by open source intelligence analysts show they have advanced more than 15 km (9.5 miles) towards Ocheretyne Village since seizing Avdivka.

Furthermore, the City of Chasiv Yar controlled by Kyiv is the main battleground that arises because of its position in the highlands that can function as a gateway to the cities of Kostitynivka, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

Colonel General Syrskyi described Chasiv Yar and Ivanivske Village in northeastern as "the hottest point" on the front line.

Russia's Defense Ministry said it had fended off Ukraine's counter-attack near Chasiv Yar.

In a worrying development for Ukraine, Colonel General Syrskyi said its troops were closely monitoring the increase in the number of Russian troops in Kharkiv's territory, Ukraine's second-largest city.

The city in the northeast of 1.3 million people and only 30 km from the Russian border has been hit by airstrikes in recent months, which Kyiv says is a deliberate attempt by Moscow to make Kharkiv uninhabitable.

Colonel General Syrskyi said there were signs Russia was preparing for an attack in the north of the country.

"In the most threatening direction, our troops have been strengthened by artillery and tank units," he said.

Ukraine currently expects long-awaited delivery of US military aid, which officials say is critical to containing a two-year Russian invasion. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian and US teams were working on a 10-year "specific context" security agreement that would include weapons and other support.