Ukraine Withdraws From Siversk in Donetsk Region, Says General Staff

Ukraine’s Defense Forces have withdrawn from their positions in the town of Siversk, in the Bakhmut district of the eastern Donetsk region, according to a briefing by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on December 23.

The military said the decision was taken to preserve the lives of Ukrainian service members and maintain the combat effectiveness of its units amid intensifying fighting in the area.

The General Staff reported that heavy combat continues around Siversk, where Russian occupying forces hold a significant advantage in manpower and equipment. Despite suffering substantial losses, Russian troops have not ceased their offensive operations. Ukrainian forces, the statement said, inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy during the fighting, with every meter of urban terrain coming at a high cost.

“The occupying forces were able to advance due to a significant numerical advantage and constant pressure from small assault groups operating under difficult weather conditions,” the statement read.

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Despite the withdrawal, Ukrainian forces continue to maintain fire control over the town, striking Russian units inside Siversk, disrupting their logistics, and attempting to isolate them to prevent further advances.

The General Staff emphasized that Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to carry out combat missions on the Sloviansk axis and that all necessary measures are being taken to reduce the offensive potential of Russian forces and equipment.

Earlier, Ukrainian forces successfully repelled a large-scale mechanized assault by Russian troops on the Dobropillia axis near the city of Pokrovsk, as reported by the commander of the SBS group , Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, and the press service of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine (NGU) “Azov” on December 22.

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