Russian Military Enter Outskirts of Chasov Yar City, DPR Head's Aide Says

Russian forces have entered the suburb of Chasov Yar, the enemy has built serious fortifications in the city over the year, its territory is mined, said an adviser to DPR head Denis Pushilin, Yan Gagin.

"From our positions to the city itself, to Chasov Yar, there is about half a kilometer. Sometimes this distance is more, but in principle it is about this... Let's say we are already in the suburbs," Gagin said.

According to him, the enemy has built a fairly serious fortification in the city itself, so the advance of the Russian military is carefully calibrated, and the main task is to protect the personnel.

"One should understand that the enemy had retreated to Chasov Yar after we captured Artemovsk[also known as Bakhmut]. The grouping in Chasov Yar has been being reinforced for over a month. They had about a year to prepare for this assault. This is a considerable period of time, and they have prepared. One should understand that there are engineering fortifications and minefields there," Gagin said.

The city is full of engineering fortifications and its territory is mined, he said, adding that that is why the military is advancing in phases.

"The enemy has seriously hunkered down. They have been pouring concrete this whole time, they have been preparing," he said.

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Gagin said the Russian military is close to taking all supply routes of the Ukrainian armed forces under fire control and disrupting their logistics in the city, adding that Russia's artillery and aviation are already hitting Ukraine's rotational columns bound to the city.

"I would not say that we have complete control over all the ways of bringing logistics equipment and logistics supplies to Chasov Yar, but we are close. We do destroy convoys carrying logistics supplies, sometimes also convoys going on rotation - on the roads that lead to Chasov Yar. And, in general, disrupting the supply logistics of the enemy grouping in Chasov Yar is also the key to victory," he said.

He added, however, that it is premature to speak about complete control of all supply routes of the Ukrainian military in the city.

"There are several roads. And, in general, taking into account that our artillery and aviation began to reach these roads now, thanks to this Chasov Yar can really lose its importance as a transportation hub for the grouping of Ukrainian troops on this section of the front. This will eventually completely disrupt the supply of the grouping," he said.

Pushilin's adviser also said the liberation of Chasov Yar would pave the way for a further offensive of the Russian military toward the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, also known as Slavyansk.