Putin’s army ‘accelerates’ advance in bid to break defensive line

Vladimir Putin’s army is “accelerating” its advance seeking to break Ukraine’s defensive line despite suffering heavy losses, say UK defence chiefs.

They stressed that Russian units had seized “several small settlements” in the Donetsk province in the east of the country.

In its latest update, the Ministry of Defence in London said: “The advance of Russian forces west of Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast (province), has accelerated within the past week.

Russian Ground Forces (RGF) have created a narrow salient further into Ukrainian territory to enter the town of Ocheretyne, located approximately 15km north of central Avdiivka.”

The briefing added: “Since RGF took control of Avdiivka in mid-February 2024, the area has remained one of the primary areas of Russian operations.

“Despite sustaining continued high losses, it is highly likely that RGF are able to continuously target Ukrainian positions in the area and have taken control of several small settlements.”

In Washington, the Institute for the Study of War said that while Russian forces were gaining ground they were unlikely to make a breakthrough of Ukraine’s defensive line.

“Russian forces are stabilising their small salient northwest of Avdiivka and may make further tactical gains that could cause Ukrainian forces to withdraw from other tactical positions along the frontline west of Avdiivka to a more defensible line,” said the military think tank.

It added: “Recent Russian gains northwest of Avdiivka have been relatively quick but still relatively marginal, with Russian forces advancing at most roughly 5km in depth since April 18.”

The ISW stressed that Ukrainian army chiefs could withdraw forces further west if they decided that “Russian tactical gains in the area were too threatening to current Ukrainian positions”.

It added: “Russian forces will likely continue to make tactical gains northwest of Avdiivka, but these gains are unlikely to develop into an operationally significant penetration.”

Ukrainian and Russian forces are engaged in fierce fighting for the hilltop town of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk province. Seizing Chasiv Yar would allow the Russian army to move toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, key cities Ukraine controls in the Donetsk province.

Putin is believed to want to capture the town in time for the May 9 Victory Parade in Moscow which celebrates the Soviet Victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

It came as US defence secretary Lloyd Austin announced yesterday that the US will provide Ukraine with additional Patriot missiles for its air defence systems as part of a massive $6bn (€5.6bn) additional aid package,

The missiles will be used to replenish previously supplied Patriot air defence systems.

They are part of a package that also includes more munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and additional gear to integrate western air defence launchers, missiles and radars into Ukraine’s existing weaponry, much of which still dates back to previous Soviet-era systems.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the need for Patriots early yesterday at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, a coalition of about 50 countries gathering virtually in a Pentagon-led meeting.

The meeting fell on the second anniversary of the group

Mr Zelensky said at least seven Patriot systems are needed to protect Ukrainian cities. “This is what can and should save lives right now,” he said.

At a Pentagon press conference after the meeting, Mr Austin said the US was continuing to work with allies to resource additional Patriot systems but did not commit to sending more US versions.

“It’s not just Patriot they need, they need other types of systems and interceptors as well,” he said.

US officials said the aid package will be funded through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which pays for longer-term contracts with the defence industry which means it could take many months or years to arrive.

In northeastern Ukraine, Russian guided bombs struck an industrial facility and a residential building yesterday, wounding at least four people, according to officials in the area.

Three children and a woman were hurt when bombs hit a central part of the town of Derhachi in the Kharkiv region, governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Two bombs struck an industrial facility in the Sumy region, regional authorities said, but gave no further details.

​The new funding – the largest tranche of Ukraine Security Assistance Aid (USAI) sent to date – also includes the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars) as well as Switchblade and Puma drones, counter drone systems and artillery.

The large back-to-back packages are the result of the new infusion of about $61bn in funding for Ukraine passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on Wednesday. (© Evening Standard)

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