Russian forces seize embattled Siversk town as Ukrainian troops withdraw

"The Ukrainian military says its forces have withdrawn from the battle-scarred town of Siversk in the eastern Donetsk region after heavy fighting with Russian forces. In a statement on Telegram on Tuesday, Ukraine's General Staff said that Russian troops had a significant advantage in manpower and equipment and had exerted constant pressure on the defending Ukrainian troops by staging small-unit assaults in difficult weather conditions."

"Ukraine's decision to withdraw its forces was made to preserve the lives of our soldiers and the combat capability of the units, the General Staff said. Heavy losses were inflicted on Russian forces before the order to retreat was given, and Siversk remains under the fire control of our troops, and enemy units are being blocked to prevent their further advance, the General Staff added."

"Ukraine's DeepState military monitoring site reported late on Tuesday that Russian forces had occupied Siversk as well as Hrabovske, a village in Ukraine's Sumy region close to the border with Russia. Russian Lieutenant General Sergei Medvedev had told Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 11 that troops had taken Siversk, where fighting has been fierce in recent months, but Ukrainian officials denied the Russian reports at the time."

Ukrainian forces withdrew from Siversk in eastern Donetsk after intense fighting and sustained pressure from Russian troops with greater manpower and equipment. The General Staff reported small-unit Russian assaults in difficult weather and said the withdrawal aimed to preserve soldiers’ lives and unit combat capability. Ukrainian forces inflicted heavy losses on Russian units before retreating and retained fire control over Siversk while blocking enemy advances. Monitoring sites later reported Russian occupation of Siversk and Hrabovske. Earlier claims by Russian commanders that Siversk had been taken were previously denied by Ukrainian officials.

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