Russia Claims To Win Chasiv Yar Ukraine After 16 Months Of Battle

Russian/Military Alexander Reka/TASS

JAKARTA - Russia claims to have captured the city of Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine after nearly 16 months of fighting, paving the way for potential further progress.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces had "freened" the city.

A Ukrainian military spokesman called the claim "propaganda", but videos posted by Russian military units and verified by Reuters showed banners of Russian parachuting troops and national flags raised by soldiers in the ruins of the barren city.

Russia is slowly moving forward in eastern Ukraine as negotiations to end the 3.5-year war fail to progress towards a ceasefire.

This prompted US President Donald Trump to threaten new sanctions against Russia and its export-buying countries starting next week.

Moscow troops are also increasing intense pressure in the city of Pokrovsk, 60 km (37 miles) southwest of Chasiv Yar.

Military analyst Emil Kastehelmi, co-founder of Finland-based Black Bird Group, said it was likely that fighting would continue near Chasiv Yar.

"The media Chasiv Yar benefits the defending parties. Forest areas, waters, hills, and various buildings allow Ukraine to carry out more than a year's defense operations, where Russia makes little progress every month," he told Reuters, Thursday, July 31.

Kastehelmi said the possible fall of the city, if confirmed, would create conditions for Russia to advance further in eastern Ukraine, but still gradually.

"The collapse of the city into the hands of the enemy remains a challenging situation for Ukraine, as it will bring Russia closer to Kostitynivka, which is now being approached by Russia from several directions," he said.

"Logistics in the area will also be affected, as Russia can deploy a drone team even closer," he continued.

The fighting for Chasiv Yar began in April last year, when Russian parachuting forces reached its eastern edge. Russian state media reported at the time that Russian soldiers had begun calling their Ukrainian counterparts in the city to demand that they give up or be destroyed by air-guided bombs.

The city, which is now destroyed, has a population of more than 12,000 people before the war and its economy relies on a plant that produces reinforced concrete and clay products used to make bricks.

It was located west of Bakhmut, which Russia captured in 2023 after one of the bloodiest battles of the war.