In early April, Ukrainian forces were struggling due to lack of funding and ammunition support from the United States, with the U.S. Congress yet to approve $61 billion in funding for the war effort. The urgent mobilization law to raise new troops for the Ukrainian armed forces had also stalled in Kyiv, leaving the Ukrainian brigades vulnerable. The Kremlin took advantage of this weakness and attacked various points along the 600-mile front line of Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine.
A month later, there have been significant improvements in Ukraine’s situation. American aid is flowing again, the mobilization law is in effect, new troops are undergoing training, and new brigades are forming. One area where these improvements are particularly evident is in Chasiv Yar, an industrial town west of Donetsk that has been a key objective of the Russian offensive in the region. In mid-April, Ukrainian defenses in Chasiv Yar were thinning, leading to the dissolution of the 67th Mechanized Brigade due to allegations of incompetence.
Following the dissolution of the 67th Mechanized Brigade, other Ukrainian units scrambled to fill the gap in the defensive line and rush ammunition to Chasiv Yar. Russian forces, including armored units and attack jets, were advancing towards the town, threatening to surround the garrison. However, by mid-May, the Ukrainians had received reinforcements and ample ammunition, enabling them to effectively counter the Russian assaults. The garrison in Chasiv Yar, as well as other brigades, had enough firepower to repel the Russian attacks and inflict significant damage.
On Friday, a battalion of Russian armored vehicles headed towards Chasiv Yar from Donetsk. In the past, Russian assault groups may have been able to advance unimpeded, but now the Ukrainians were well-armed and ready to defend the town. With a steady supply of ammunition and improved weaponry, the Ukrainians effectively targeted the Russian assault group as it crossed open fields towards Chasiv Yar. Despite initial successes in reaching the canal district, the Russians ultimately failed to establish a foothold in the town and advance further.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that none of the brigades complained of a shortage of artillery shells for the first time during the war, highlighting the impact of the influx of ammunition. While the abundance of ammunition might be overstated, it is clear that the Ukrainians were well-equipped to fend off the Russian attack on Chasiv Yar. The situation in Chasiv Yar and other areas where Ukrainian forces are stationed has significantly improved as a result of increased support and ammunition supply.
