The situation in eastern Ukraine has sharply deteriorated in recent days, with defense lines collapsing, – Neue Zürcher Zeitung

The military situation in eastern Ukraine has sharply deteriorated in recent days. Defensive lines have collapsed in various sections of the front.

Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung reports this while commenting on the situation in Velyka Novosilka, Chasiv Yar, and Pokrovsk.

In particular, the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) have been “trapped” in Velyka Novosilka, which is located between three rivers, writes Neue Zürcher Zeitung. The newspaper predicts the imminent fall of the city, which for three years was “a stronghold against further Russian advances in southern Donbas.”

Ukrainian troops appear to be “cut off from all supplies.” The remaining Ukrainian forces “can only hope to reach safety on foot across the fields or using improvised rafts to cross the Mokri Yaly River.” In doing so, they are being forced to abandon heavy military equipment.

Attempts to assist them “seem to have been unsuccessful,” as evidenced by video footage showing destroyed armored vehicles in the vicinity.

“The current scenario is reminiscent of the costly retreat battles near Avdiivka a year ago and near Vuhledar in October. In both cases, the high command waited too long in a hopeless situation and issued the order to retreat far too late. Accordingly, there is significant frustration among some Ukrainians that Kyiv seemingly has learned nothing,” the Swiss newspaper comments, referencing remarks by journalist Yuriy Butusov.

The publication predicts that after the fall of Velyka Novosilka, Russian forces will advance northward, where there are few topographical obstacles, toward the border of the Dnipropetrovsk region.

“Velyka Novosilka is a symbol of the shifting fortunes of war,” the publication writes, recalling that this was the site of Ukraine’s failed counteroffensive in the summer of 2023.