President Zelensky visited many locations near the front line in Donetsk province, including the headquarters of the 41st Brigade protecting the city of Chasov Yar.
“I visited one of the command posts of the 41st Mechanized Brigade, a unit defending Chasov Yar. I talked with the soldiers, listened to the unit commander report on the combat situation and defense line construction process. I also awarded awards to the soldiers here,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today.
The distance from Brigade 41 headquarters to the front line is unknown.
Video released by Mr. Zelensky shows the convoy passing through the welcome gate in the city of Slavyansk, about 30 km northwest of Chasov Yar. The President of Ukraine also announced a visit to a military medical platoon and inspected many defense works in Donetsk province.
Mr. Zelensky visited the 41st Brigade headquarters and the front line in Donetsk province in a video released today. Video: Telegram/V_Zelenskiy_official
The visit is aimed at boosting the morale of units defending Chasov Yar, an important Ukrainian-controlled stronghold about 10 kilometers west of Bakhmut.
Chasov Yar is located in the Donbass industrial region, where the production of reinforced concrete products, exploitation and production of products from refractory clay. The terrain is higher than the surrounding area, making the city a logistics center and main forward artillery base for the Ukrainian army.
Kiev appears to have deployed at least five brigades to defend the city.
Ukrainian army commander Oleksandr Syrsky admitted last week that the situation there was deteriorating. The brigades in Chasov Yar stopped attacking outside, instead were ordered to defend and receive more artillery shells, drones and electronic warfare systems.
Russia’s battle-hardened airborne forces approached the eastern edge of the city, while artillery, air power and drones continuously attacked enemy defensive positions. Russia appears to be encircling Ukrainian forces from east, south and north of Chasov Yar to force them to retreat west.
Location of Chasov Yar and key strongholds in the area. Graphics: RYV
If they control Chasov Yar, the Russian army can launch direct attacks against the remaining Ukrainian strongholds in the region such as Kramatorsk, Slavyansk, Druzhkovka and Konstantinovka. In particular, Kramatorsk is the last large city that Ukraine still controls in Donetsk province.