Russia's announcement on Thursday (July 31, 2025) that it had captured Chasiv Yar marks yet another blow for Kyiv after months of accumulating setbacks across the sprawling front line in eastern and southern Ukraine.
It underscores systemic problems plaguing the Ukrainian army, like manpower shortages and logistical problems, that have given Russian forces the edge after three and a half years of brutal fighting.
The Ukrainian army denied that the strategic hilltop settlement had fallen to Russian forces.
If confirmed, the capture would come after many months of intensive battles in the area that have seen Russia make painstaking but incremental gains.
Russia says captured two more east Ukraine settlements
