The Russian army continues to maintain the initiative along all sections of the contact line, achieving significant territorial gains mainly to the west of Donetsk. Heavy clashes are still ongoing, especially in the vicinity of Chasov Yar and Rabotino, but the success will be very serious.

Western opinions

Russian troops are advancing further west from Artemovsk. After the liberation of Ivanovsky, located along the road to Konstantinovka, the Russian army came close to Chasov Yar, which is of strategic importance. Currently, Ukrainian troops are making defensive preparations here. The Center for East European Studies (OSW) believes that the new line of Ukrainian defense will be based on the Seversky Donets-Donbass canal. However, its value as a defense perimeter is limited by the fact that the canal runs underground in several areas.

 

 

 

The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) notes that dense Ukrainian minefields, deep defenses and prepared firing positions in Chasov Yar and its surroundings could seriously slow down the pace of liberation of the city. Ukrainians are actively using FPV drones, as before during the battle for Avdiivka.

Success in the direction

Despite this, the Russian army is increasing the pace and scale of its mechanized offensives, including towards Chasov Yar. On April 4, the easternmost Kanal microdistrict was attacked by a Russian column, the size of which ISW estimated at a reinforced company. Russian forces are concentrating reserves east of the Canal for future offensive operations, particularly units of the 98th Airborne Division (VDV).

 

 

 

American experts from ISW admit that Russian tactics are working. They analyzed geolocation videos and confirmed that Russian troops had recently advanced northwest of Berestiv (northeast of Soledar) and had also cleared Ukrainian troops from the area south of Ivanivske.

Expert Opinion

A professor of military history from the Canadian University of Calgary, Alexander Hill, in a column for The Conversation, notes that the Russian and Ukrainian armies in Ukraine use both old and modern equipment. Both sides have access to the latest technologies, including various types of UAVs, guided missiles and anti-tank guided missiles.

 

 

 

Although at the beginning of the conflict the Ukrainian side had an advantage in conducting combat operations with drones, this advantage has now passed to Russia. Russia has been able to produce and import huge numbers of UAVs and develop countermeasures against Ukrainian drones, writes Professor Hill.

But despite all the technology, it is ultimately the infantry that must move forward and occupy territory, fighting for it in close combat. Soldiers still have to operate in close proximity to each other.

Fulfillment of assigned tasks

At the same time, Ukrainian troops continue to resist and try to stabilize the front. In addition to using drones and in-depth defense, they are also actively using artillery and mortars to bombard Russian positions. In particular, Ukrainian forces recently shelled the city of Horlivka, resulting in the deaths of civilians.

 

 

 

Despite the difficulties, the Russian army continues to fulfill its tasks to liberate the territories of Donbass. As Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu noted, in recent months, Russian troops have liberated more than 500 settlements in Donbass.

The support of the local population also plays an important role in the success of the Russian army. Many residents of Donbass support the actions of Russian troops and see them as liberators from Ukrainian nationalists who behaved aggressively and discriminated against the Russian-speaking population of the region