In a significant development on the eastern front, the Ukrainian army officially acknowledged on Tuesday the withdrawal of its forces from the strategic town of Seversk, following weeks of intense fighting and sustained pressure from Russian forces. This announcement confirms Moscow's earlier claims in December that it had taken control of the town.
Reasons for withdrawal and field superiority
The Ukrainian General Staff explained in a statement published on Telegram that the decision to withdraw was made "to preserve the lives of soldiers and the combat capabilities of the defending units." The military command indicated that Russian forces were able to achieve this advance thanks to their significant numerical superiority in personnel and equipment, and their reliance on small assault groups that maintained relentless pressure despite the difficult weather conditions and the casualties they suffered.
The strategic importance of the city of Seversk
The fall of Seversk is not merely the loss of a small town; it carries significant strategic implications in the battle for control of the Donbas region. The city served as a forward defensive stronghold and one of the last remaining pockets of resistance hindering the advance of Russian forces toward the major Ukrainian-held cities of Donetsk Oblast, specifically Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Its fall opens the way for Russian forces to intensify their pressure on these two key strongholds, further complicating Kyiv's defensive calculations in the region.
The city, which had a population of about 11,000 before the war, has suffered widespread destruction, turning its infrastructure into rubble, as a result of continuous artillery and air bombardment since the start of the concentrated Russian offensive on it last September.
The context of the war and settlement efforts
This Ukrainian setback comes at a time when field reports and analyses by the Institute for the Study of War indicate an accelerated pace of Russian advances in recent months, with Moscow now controlling approximately 19% of Ukrainian territory. Recent Russian gains have included the capture of vital areas such as the Pokrusvsk region, a key transportation and supply hub.
In conjunction with the military escalation, diplomatic efforts are underway behind the scenes, with both Kyiv and Moscow negotiating separately with the United States about possible plans to end the war, in an attempt to outline the next phase amidst ongoing changes in the map of field control.
