Kyiv: Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from the strategic town of Siversk in the eastern Donetsk region to maintain unit combat capability, as announced by the Ukrainian General Staff on Tuesday. The military command stated that the withdrawal was necessary to preserve the lives of soldiers and maintain the combat capability of the units. Despite the withdrawal, the city remains under the fire control of Ukrainian troops to prevent further Russian advances.

According to Anadolu Agency, Russian forces achieved the advance due to a significant superiority in equipment and manpower, employing constant pressure from small assault groups. These advances occurred despite difficult weather conditions and high casualty rates. The Ukrainian command emphasized that the defense of Siversk exhausted Russian forces, with every meter of the city contested at a high price. Logistics for units in the city are reportedly being targeted.

Ukrainian units have repositioned to continue combat missions around Sloviansk, which is approximately 44.8 kilometers (47 miles) away by road. The withdrawal comes after Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed on December 11 that Russian President Vladimir Putin had received a report regarding the complete capture of the town.

Siversk is considered a strategic Ukrainian stronghold in the Donetsk region. Its capture is viewed as a significant step, opening a direct route toward the key cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, which form a major defensive hub for Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donbas.