In a notable development on the eastern front, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army announced on Tuesday the official withdrawal of its forces from the town of Seversk in the Donbas region, following weeks of fierce fighting and continuous pressure from Russian forces, which had declared their initial control over the city earlier this month.
Reasons for withdrawal: Preserving combat capabilities
The Ukrainian military command justified this difficult decision by citing the need to "preserve the lives of soldiers and the combat capabilities of the defending units." An official statement published on Telegram explained that withdrawal was the best option given the complex field conditions. The General Staff clarified that Russian forces had achieved significant advances thanks to their overwhelming numerical superiority in personnel and equipment, and their reliance on small assault groups that maintained relentless pressure despite the difficult weather and the losses they sustained.
The strategic importance of the city of Seversk
The fall of Seversk is not merely the loss of a small town; it carries significant strategic implications for the course of the battles in eastern Ukraine. Located in a low-lying area, Seversk is a crucial transportation hub and, for months, served as a vital defensive line and a cornerstone preventing Russian forces from advancing on the remaining major strongholds in Donbas.
Military analysts believe that capturing Seversk paves the way for Russian forces to advance on the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk , two major industrial centers that are Russia's primary objectives in its bid to complete control of the Donbas region. This development puts Ukrainian defenses in the rear under direct pressure and threatens the logistical supply lines of the remaining forces in the area.
The situation on the ground and the extent of the destruction
The city suffered widespread destruction of its infrastructure and residential buildings, with most of its neighborhoods reduced to rubble by intense artillery and airstrikes. Seversk, which had a population of approximately 11,000 before the war, is now almost entirely deserted.
According to field reports, Russian forces launched their large-scale attack on the city from three main axes since September 2025, and between November and December succeeded in making significant breaches in the Ukrainian defenses, making it very costly for the Ukrainian army to remain in the city.
Control map and diplomatic path
This Russian advance comes amid a series of rapid territorial gains in recent months. Data indicates that Russia now controls approximately 19% of Ukrainian territory. Among its most significant recent gains is the capture of the Pokrusiv region, a vital crossroads for supply lines.
According to analyses based on data from the Institute for the Study of War in Washington, the Russian army achieved its greatest pace of advance in a full year in November, taking advantage of the Ukrainian side's shortage of ammunition and the exhaustion of the defending units.
In conjunction with the military escalation, diplomatic channels remain cautiously open, with separate negotiations taking place between Ukraine and Russia with the United States to discuss proposals and plans aimed at ending the war, in an attempt to find a political way out of the conflict that is draining the resources of both sides.
