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What's the significance of Russia claiming to have captured the Ukrainian town Chasiv Yar?

After nearly 16 months, Russia claimed to have taken control of the devastated town of Chasiv Yar (in eastern Ukraine), an assertion that Kyiv branded "propaganda".

Here are some key facts about Chasiv Yar (also known as Chasov Yar by Russians) and the long struggle for its control that began in March/April of 2024.

What is chasive yar?

Chasiv Yar, a quiet ravine with a population of over 12,000 before the war, is located in the industrial Donbas region in Ukraine's Donetsk Region, one of four areas that Moscow claims to have annexed by 2022. Kyiv has called this annexation an illegal land grab.

The town's economy pre-war was centered on an industrial complex that produced bricks and reinforced concrete products.

It was located on higher ground and served as an artillery forward base as well as a point of regrouping for the Ukrainian Army.

The Russian military considered it one of Ukraine’s strongest strongholds because of its location, elevation, terrain, and the factories and apartment buildings where Ukrainian forces had been able to dig into.

Why does Russia want it?

If confirmed, the Russian capture of the town would help Moscow in its effort to surround the "fortress-city" of Kostiantynivka, which it's trying to envelop with a pincer move, and remove an obstacle that had become an obstruction to the army's westward advance across the rest Donetsk.

Sloviansk and Kramatorsk are listed by Russian analysts as "fortress cities" that can be reached from Chasiv Yar, if Moscow is able to get there. Kyiv, however, is determined not to allow this.

Analysts in Russia say that their military will use Chasiv Yar to attack Ukrainian forces in Donetsk's northern region with artillery fire and drones and to disrupt Ukrainian supply lines. Rybar, a war blogger, said that holding the ground and moving northwards would not be an easy task.

What was the battle for chasiv yar like?

Both sides have military analysts who say that the battle is one of longest and most grinding of the war with many but not disclosed casualties.

The Russian Defence Ministry announced on Thursday that its paratroopers have cleared over 4,200 structures and buildings in the push to take town. They had also covered more than 12 miles of distance under Ukrainian artillery fire and drones.

Could not confirm this assertion.

Ukraine claims that its fierce and long-lasting resistance at Chasiv Yar demonstrates how it was able to slow down and inflict severe casualties on an numerically superior force, with the aid of its drone units.

How important would its fall be?

Ukrainian analysts have downplayed the importance of Chasiv Yar and suggested that Russia taking it would only be a Pyrrhic win given the high price Kyiv forced Moscow to pay and the length of time it was able to resist Russian forces.

Some Russian analysts claim that the capture of the town would be more of a tactical than strategic victory.

Sergei Markov said that the battle has been going on so long, Chasiv Yar's strategic importance had diminished.

Markov wrote in Telegram that "the capture of the city is symbolic: this could be how the war will continue for many more years - slowly and slowly the Russian army advances."

What does CHASIV Yar look like now?

The town is a shambles and has been pulverized by Russian forces after heavy shelling and air strikes, glide bombs and drone attacks.

Ukraine claims that a Russian airstrike on a residential building in the city in 2022 resulted in at least 43 deaths. Russia claims that the dead were Ukrainian soldiers.

Most of the residents of the town were evacuated when its utilities, such as power, water and gas, were destroyed. According to Serhii Chus, head of the town’s Ukrainian military administration, only 304 residents were still in the area in November of last year. They were sheltering in their basements.

The Russian military announced on Thursday that it had evacuated 65 civilians. Andrew Osborn, Andrew Heavens and Andrew Osborn contributed to the reporting.

(source: Reuters)