In a major development on the Eastern Front of the war in Ukraine, Russia has claimed full control of the strategic city of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region, following more than a year of brutal and protracted combat.
The announcement, made by the Russian Ministry of Defense, was accompanied by drone footage showing Russian troops hoisting national flags over a landscape of rubble and destroyed infrastructure.
However, Ukrainian military officials have firmly denied the claim, stating that intense fighting is still ongoing in parts of the city and that Ukrainian defenders are continuing to resist the Russian advance.
Symbolic and Strategic Importance
Chasiv Yar sits just west of the war-torn city of Bakhmut, which Russia seized in 2023 after one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the war. Military analysts have long considered Chasiv Yar a critical logistics and defensive hub for Ukrainian forces in Donetsk Oblast, particularly due to its elevated terrain and its proximity to supply routes feeding into Sloviansk and Kramatorsk — two of Ukraine’s key strongholds in the east.
Control of Chasiv Yar would not only represent a tactical gain for Russian forces but also a symbolic victory, coming at a time when Ukraine’s much-anticipated counteroffensive has made limited progress.
Footage Released by the Russian Defense Ministry
The Russian Defense Ministry released aerial footage on Thursday that purportedly shows soldiers from the 98th Guards Airborne Division entering the city center, raising Russian flags over the municipal building and other key sites. The video depicts a shattered urban landscape, with nearly every structure appearing damaged or destroyed.
A statement from the ministry said:
“Russian forces have completed the liberation of Chasiv Yar. The Ukrainian garrison has either withdrawn or been neutralized. Mopping-up operations are underway.”
Independent verification of the footage or Russia’s claims is not currently possible.
Ukraine: “The Battle Is Not Over”
Ukraine’s Armed Forces immediately responded to the Russian announcement, calling it premature and misleading.
“Our defenders continue to hold positions in Chasiv Yar. Fierce urban fighting is ongoing. The city has not fallen,” said Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Eastern Command.
Ukrainian sources confirmed that Russian forces have advanced deep into the city, particularly into the Novyi and Kanal districts, but claim that key defensive positions remain under Ukrainian control. Kyiv has also accused Moscow of exaggerating battlefield gains for propaganda purposes amid growing domestic pressure and international scrutiny.
Devastation and Human Cost
Satellite images and ground reports reveal that Chasiv Yar, once home to approximately 12,000 people, has been reduced to ruins. Most of its civilian population fled long ago, and those who remain are believed to be sheltering underground or in makeshift refugee camps.
“There is no city left. It’s a ghost town,” said one Ukrainian soldier in a video posted on Telegram. “But we’re still here, and we’re still fighting.”
Both sides have suffered heavy casualties in the months-long battle. Ukrainian military sources suggest that Russia has employed scorched-earth tactics, including widespread use of glide bombs and heavy artillery, to overcome Ukrainian defenses.
Implications for the War
If confirmed, the fall of Chasiv Yar would be Russia’s most significant territorial gain since Avdiivka earlier this year and could open the door for a new offensive push westward toward Kostiantynivka and Sloviansk.
Military analysts warn that the situation remains fluid and that urban warfare often leads to premature claims of control, especially in areas where buildings and tunnels can provide cover for prolonged resistance.
Meanwhile, Western officials continue to express concern about Ukraine’s ability to sustain its defense without increased deliveries of long-range weapons, air defenses, and manpower reinforcements.
International Reaction
NATO Secretary-General Julianne Smith stated that the alliance is monitoring the situation closely but emphasized that Russia’s progress has come at a tremendous cost.
“Russia may capture cities, but they are losing legitimacy and exhausting their military,” Smith said. “Ukraine has NATO’s full backing.”
The U.S. State Department has not yet confirmed the Russian claim and is awaiting intelligence assessments from the region.
As the battle for Chasiv Yar continues to unfold, the fog of war remains thick. Whether or not Russia has fully taken the city, the cost in lives and destruction is clear. For Ukraine, holding or retaking Chasiv Yar will be critical—not just strategically, but symbolically—in a war where morale and momentum are as vital as territory.
