Russian forces mistakenly bomb their own troops amid the Chasiv Yar siege
The Russian Federation has launched attacks on Chasiv Yar using tanks, armored vehicles, and assault aircraft, as confirmed on Monday by Oleg Kalsznikov, the press spokesman for the 26th Artillery Brigade. Kalsznikov mentioned that the Russian troops "are trying to advance" by attacking from two directions.
7:42 AM EDT, April 8, 2024
Kalsznikov noted that enemy forces utilize infantry assault strategies and deploy armored equipment such as armored cars and tanks. According to him, these attacks have been repelled, forcing the units of the occupying forces to retreat to their prior positions.
Russians fire on their own troops
Kalsznikov reported that yesterday, Russian aircraft mistakenly attacked Russian soldiers during their retreat. This friendly fire incident likely stemmed from the mistaken belief that Ukrainian units were in the area.
"Russia appears to have addressed its personnel losses so far and, in recent assaults in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, has deployed an increased number of mechanized units," the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) observed on Saturday.
Analysts pointed out that while the intensification of Russia's offensive in Ukraine "will probably result in higher casualties and material losses," the Ministry of Defense in Moscow "seems to have managed these setbacks effectively."
The think tank also noted that the Russians launched several mechanized assaults in the Donetsk region last week, targeting areas near Chasiv Yar, Terny, Berdychi, Semeniwka, and Tonenke.
"The initial strategy of Russian offensives, which relied heavily on infantry without significant armored support, led to higher personnel losses. Russia seems to have countered this through ongoing cryptomobilization, compensating for the increasing personnel casualties," the analysts evaluated.
Chasiv Yar under siege
On Friday, reports from Russian media, quoting local occupation officials, indicated that Russian forces had advanced to the suburbs of Chasiv Yar. "The conflict persists, yet the Russians haven't reached the city's outskirts," stated a Ukrainian military spokesperson.
The situation is quite challenging; fighting is continuous, but they (the Russians) have not made it to the area yet, so (...) do not trust Russian reports, Andriy Zadubinny, a spokesperson for the eastern command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told Reuters.
Located approximately 6.2 miles west of Bakhmut and on the route to Konstantynówka, Chasiv Yar is followed by a series of smaller towns leading to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk—significant centers in the Donetsk region under Ukrainian control. The well-fortified town, which hosts a key Ukrainian military garrison, remains a critical point of defense.
