Ukraine army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi warned on Sunday, the 28th of April, of a worsening frontline situation as Ukrainian forces retreated from positions in eastern Donetsk due to increased Russian attacks as Russia seeks to build on its lead before US weapons arrive, reports the British broadcaster BBC.
Despite a recent deal for 61 billion US dollars in military aid, the new US weapons have not yet reached the Ukrainian front lines. The troops are still short of ammunition, personnel and air defence equipment.
“The situation on the frontline has worsened,” Sirskyi said on Telegram, adding that
Moscow had made “tactical progress in some sectors”.
General Syrskyi confirmed that Ukrainian forces had retreated from positions in the Donetsk region, which was part of the defence line established after Russia captured Avdiivka in February. Fighting has been concentrated around the reach of Chasiv Yar, a stronghold controlled by Kyiv, and new lines of defence have been established further west.
Rested Ukrainian forces are replacing units that have suffered losses in these areas.
The Russian Ministry of Defence reported earlier on Sunday that its troops had captured the village of Novobakhmutivka, located about 10 km north of Avdiivka.
On Friday, the Pentagon said it would send Patriot air defence missiles and artillery ammunition to Ukraine urgently as part of the new military assistance.
Between February 2022 and January 2024, the US has provided more than 40 billion US dollars in military aid to Ukraine, according to the German research organisation Kiel Institute.
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