Russia declares control of Ukraine's stronghold in Donbass

Nga tuyên bố kiểm soát thành trì của Ukraine ở Donbass - 1 — Marinka is located in Donetsk province, eastern Ukraine (Photo: Getty).

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced today, December 25, that the country's army has completely controlled the city of Marinka, which is considered a stronghold of Ukrainian forces in Donetsk province, Donbass region.

"During the offensive operation, the Southern Forces' assault units took complete control of Marinka, southwest of Donetsk," Minister Shoigu reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

President Putin said that full control of Marinka would allow Russia to push Ukrainian forces further away from Donetsk.

Ukraine has not yet commented on Russia's statement.

The information was released in the context that Russia is said to be taking the initiative on most of the battlefields in Ukraine. At the Donetsk front, the Russian army has also approached the city of Avdiivka, which is considered the mainstay of Ukraine's defense in the region.

On December 22, Tarmo Kundla, head of the Operations Department of the Estonian Defense Forces General Staff, said that Russia is gaining the upper hand on the eastern front in Ukraine. In particular, Moscow has made progress in villages north and south of the city of Avdiivka.

Marinka, south of Avdiivka, is also at risk of falling within weeks, he pointed out. However, he said, Russia is unlikely to gain control of any more territory in Donetsk in the short term.

Marinka is a small city in the Donetsk Oblast of Ukraine, with a pre-conflict population of around 10,000. Marinka is located about 20km from the centre of Donetsk and about 10km from the western edge.

According to Mr. Shoigu, Ukraine turned Marinka into a fortress with a dense system of underground tunnels and fortifications many years ago.

Marinka connects Donetsk city and Zaporizhia province via the N15 highway, making it strategically important. If Russia were to take control of Marinka, it could reduce the threat of Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk city.

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