According to Reuters on December 23, the Ukrainian military stated that the Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from the heavily fought city of Severodonetsk, while Russian forces were launching an offensive threatening several key cities for Ukraine's eastern defense.
The Ukrainian General Staff officially acknowledged on December 23 the withdrawal from Severodonetsk, a strategic stronghold in Donetsk province, emphasizing that this was a tactical adjustment to "preserve manpower," while the Russian side viewed it as a key breakthrough in the Donbas battle.
The Ukrainian General Staff's statement said that the Russian forces, relying on their numerical and equipment advantages, continuously pressured with small-scale突击 teams under harsh weather conditions, making it difficult for the Ukrainian forces to maintain the front line. To protect soldiers' lives and the combat effectiveness of the troops, and to avoid being surrounded, they decided to retreat to more favorable defensive positions. The Ukrainian side also claimed that significant losses were inflicted on the Russian forces before the withdrawal, and emphasized that they still maintained "fire control" over the city area.
Russian sources stated that Russian forces had already declared control over Severodonetsk by early December (the Russian Chief of General Staff reported to Putin on December 11 that the city was completely under Russian control). After the Ukrainian withdrawal, Russian media claimed to have achieved actual control. Russian military experts believe that this move has created a foothold for attacking the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk urban cluster.
Shortages of personnel and delays in Western military aid have worsened the situation. The Ukrainian forces were forced to shrink their front lines, concentrating resources to defend the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk urban cluster, with some units transferred to the southern Zaporozhye front.
In fact, the Ukrainian forces have been retreating step by step, and the reason has always been "preserving forces."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1852439606692876/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.