Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Velyka Novosilka could fall within weeks or even days, – Bild

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are fighting a “hopeless battle” in three Donbas cities: Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Velyka Novosilka. These cities are “just days or weeks away from falling.”

This opinion was expressed by Julian Röpcke, a military observer for the German tabloid Bild.

According to him, Toretsk is 95% captured by Russian forces. Ukrainian soldiers report that the AFU is defending the last remaining mine.

Chasiv Yar is 60% captured. Control has been lost over the largest high-rise district and the refractory plant. The AFU still holds the administrative center of the city and a few suburban areas.

Velyka Novosilka is surrounded on three sides. This strategically important town, located 17 km from the borders of the Dnipropetrovsk region, is heavily fortified. However, Russian forces have flanked it, and the AFU is attempting to maintain supplies through a narrow corridor that crosses a river without a bridge. Observers believe the AFU will soon retreat to avoid complete encirclement.

Meanwhile, according to maps, Russian forces are less than five kilometers away from the borders of the Dnipropetrovsk region.