The Russian army is pushing to enter the eastern Ukrainian city and could take control over the city within days, according to the Ukrainian military.
ADVERTISEMENTRussian forces are on the verge of gaining control of a key city in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian military reported on Wednesday, adding that Moscow had attacked the town nearly two dozen times that day.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirmed Russia’s “significant tactical advances into and around Selydove in recent days.”
However, the ISW also noted that Moscow’s focus on securing the city has come at the expense of Russia’s ability to sustain a meaningful offensive drive on the city of Pokrovsk — the Kremlin’s top priority in the area.
Geolocated footage shows that Russian forces have advanced in northeastern and eastern parts of Selydove towards the city’s centre. These advances may soon force Ukrainian troops to withdraw from the area completely to avoid being trapped.
The ISW concluded that Russia may well take Selydove in the coming days. However, this didn’t necessarily mean that Pokrovsk would fall under Russian control next.
In fact, the capture of Selydove is likely to have exhausted Russian forces and reduced their combat ability, which affect their capacities if they are ordered to pivot towards Pokrovsk.
Meanwhile, the office of Ukraine’s Prosecutor General reported that Russian soldiers killed four captured Ukrainian servicemen near Selydove.
Four members of Ukraine’s National Guard were fighting near the town when they were taken prisoner during a Russian attack on 6 October.
“Russian soldiers filmed their interrogations, but when the positions were recaptured by Ukrainian forces on 7 October, their bodies were discovered,” it said.
The Prosecutor General’s office has opened an investigation into the incident.