The village of Klescheevka is on high ground 10km to the south of Artyomovsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic
Russian troops have taken full control of the strategically important village of Klescheevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has announced.
In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry said the settlement had been liberated as a result of “active actions” by Russia’s ‘South’ group of forces.
Battles in the area have raged since at least the spring of 2023, coinciding with fierce fighting in Artyomovsk (known in Ukraine as Bakhmut), just 10km to the north. Russian troops completely liberated the strategic city in May 2023.
The Ukrainian military has described Klescheevka as an important logistical hub, located on high ground with an excellent view of nearby supply routes.
Earlier on Wednesday, Igor Kimakovsky, an adviser to the head of Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), told TASS that Ukraine had pulled most of its forces from Klescheevka. According to the official, Kiev made the move to reinforce troops at another key stronghold, Chasov Yar, a linchpin of Ukraine’s defenses in Donbass, which sits on the Seversky Donets-Donbass Canal.
Russian troops have made steady gains in recent weeks, pushing Ukrainian forces out of multiple settlements in Donbass and the border Kharkov Region.
Vadim Skibitsky, deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, said earlier this month that he expects Russia to continue its offensive in Donbass, predicting it was “probably a matter of time” before Chasov Yar falls under Russian control.
May 22, 2024 at 04:04PM
RT