In detail, the Ukrainian army confirmed that the withdrawal from Marinka is a tactical withdrawal, noting that “protecting every piece of land is necessary, but preserving the lives of our soldiers is more important,” according to what Army Chief of Staff Valery Zaloghny said in Kiev.
Zaloghny acknowledged that Marinka had become under the control of Russian forces, adding that the Ukrainian withdrawal should not lead to popular anger, especially since there was nothing left of the town now.
Zaloghny explained that Marinka “has been holding out for about two years… but as of now our forces will remain present only in the northern part of it. We have prepared a defensive line outside the settlement… but I can say that the town no longer exists in reality.”
Pictures taken by drones and broadcast on Russian television showed piles of rubble and burned residential buildings in the town.
Putin congratulates the army on the liberation of Marinka
Last Monday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed President Vladimir Putin that the Russian army had liberated the city of Marinka.
President Putin congratulated the Minister of Defense on the liberation of Marinka, and in his speech to the Minister of Defense, he said: “I want to congratulate you on this success. Convey words of gratitude to all individuals and fighters who participated at different times and in different stages (of the battles).”
Putin stressed that “controlling Marinka enables us to push enemy combat units away from the city of Donetsk, and controlling this fortified area gives our forces the possibility of moving forward.”
For his part, Shoigu confirmed that Russian forces stopped the Ukrainian counterattack, noting that his country’s army is advancing on all fronts.
“The Russian army is taking important positions and expanding the areas under its control in all directions. We are constantly moving towards achieving the declared goals of the special operation,” Shoigu said.
Marinka…a key to strategic roads
For his part, the local official in Donetsk, Igor Kimakovsky, said on Tuesday that Russia has the possibility of closing many roads of strategic importance to Ukraine after controlling Marinka.
Kimakovsky said in a statement to Russian Channel One: “Control of Marinka will allow us to close many important strategic routes through which the enemy ensures interaction between its units and the transfer of manpower and ammunition.”
Kimakovsky also added that after the liberation of Marinka, the directions to Korakhovo, Krasnogorovka and Uglidar became open to Russian forces.
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2023-12-27 06:00:21
