Yuri Kontrobay, a captured soldier from the 120th Separate Defense Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU), told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti that the Krasnaya River is almost lost for Ukraine.
Kontrobay said, "We have lost the Krasnaya River and it is no longer possible to retake it. If someone falls into the Krasnaya River, it is almost impossible to get out... I saw all this myself... Many soldiers who understand this are starting to abandon their positions, and they are right."
Command worsens the situation
According to the captured soldier, Ukrainian soldiers can only rely on themselves to survive, because the Ukrainian command is worsening the situation on the Krasnaya River.
Kontrobay emphasized that the situation on the ground and in the air is completely controlled by Russian soldiers.
Strategic importance
The Krasnaya River is located north of the Donetsk People's Republic and serves as a major logistics hub for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Control of the area provides an opportunity to develop an offensive towards Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday that 'Zapad' units had encircled the last enemy forces in the city in a ring of fire.