Ukraine pulls back from three villages in east as Russia claims gains

Update by Ukraine’s top commander comes as outgunned Kyiv waits for new delivery of US weapons.

Ukraine’s top commander has said Kyiv’s outnumbered troops fell back to new positions west of three villages on the eastern front, where Russia has concentrated significant forces in several locations.

Sunday’s statement by Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskii reflected Ukraine’s deteriorating position in the east, which Kyiv hopes it can stabilise once it takes delivery of United States weapons under a $61bn aid package approved in the US this week.

“The situation at the front has worsened,” Syrskii wrote on the Telegram app, describing the “most difficult” areas as west of occupied Maryinka and northwest of Avdiivka, the town captured by Russian forces in February.

Kyiv’s troops, he said, had taken up new positions west of the villages of Berdychi and Semenivka, both north of Avdiivka, and Novomykhailivka, further south near the town of Maryinka.

“In general, the enemy achieved certain tactical successes in these areas, but could not gain operational advantages,” Syrskii said, adding that Russia had committed four brigades to the assault.