The Russian Army took control of the city of Marinka, near Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said this Monday, allowing Moscow to continue its offensive against the West in this region.
“The city of Marinka, located five kilometers southwest of Donetsk, has been completely liberated today,” said Sergei Shoigu, in a television interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Marinka has been transformed by the Ukrainian army into a stronghold since 2014. The start of a conflict with pro-Russian separatists led by Moscow meant that the Russians began to control the territory, specifically the city of Donetsk.
According to Russia’s Defense Minister, Marinka is “a powerful fortified area connected by underground passages” that protect it from air and artillery attacks.
“Thanks to the decisive actions of our soldiers, the fortress was destroyed,” said Sergei Shoigu.
“The liberation of the city naturally reduces the defense capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and gives us more opportunities to continue our action in this direction,” he added.
Vladimir Putin welcomed the fact that control of Marinka will keep Ukrainian troops away from Donetsk, the Russian-controlled regional capital, which has been a regular target of Ukrainian bombing since 2014.
“We have significantly reduced the range of artillery action near Donetsk (…) and this now makes it possible to defend Donetsk more effectively against attacks,” stressed the Russian president.
As a fortified area, Marinka offers Russian troops “the possibility of having a larger operational space,” Vladimir Putin highlighted.
Russian forces have regained the initiative on the front since the failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, gaining ground especially in eastern Ukraine.
In particular, for several months the Russian army has been trying to surround another Ukrainian stronghold, Avdiïvka, also in eastern Ukraine.
This is a Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24, 2022, which has already caused the death of thousands of civilians.
Source: TSF
