Ukrainian military retreats to outskirts of Mariinka – Zaluzhnyi

The Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said that the town of Mariinka, in the Donetsk region, no longer exists. The city was completely destroyed due to enemy attacks.

He said this at a press conference on December 26.

When journalists inquired about the Russian's declaration of having fully seized the city, Zaluzhnyi responded that the Ukrainian forces had pulled back. In certain areas, they took up defensive positions on the outskirts of Mariinka, while in others, they withdrew a bit more.

As for the conduct of hostilities around Avdiivka, the commander-in-chief stated that "there is no need to dwell on it and make a show of it." According to him, the conduct of hostilities is subject to military laws, and they "are not subject to what politicians or journalists want."

"The enemy now has the opportunity to concentrate forces and can do in two or three months what they did with Bakhmut. We will defend exactly as much as we have enough strength. But if we understand that it is better to save people, we will win it back," said Zaluzhnyi.

He also spoke about the state of the city after active hostilities.

"Mariinka does not exist anymore," the general stressed.

It is worth noting that on December 25, Russian propagandists once again wrote that the Minister of Defense of the aggressor country, Serhii Shoigu, allegedly reported to Vladimir Putin about the "complete" capture of Mariinka. The Russian dictator, in his turn, said that all those involved in the occupation of the city "deserve state awards," reports the propaganda agency RIA Novosti.

Previously, the Russians had already reported on the capture of Mariinka. In October, the United Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tavria front reported that the Russians had increased the number of assaults in the Mariinka area.

For reference:

Mariinka is located close to occupied Donetsk. Fierce fighting began on the day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. During this time, the entire infrastructure of the city was utterly destroyed.

In early December, British intelligence stated that Russian troops were slowly making their way through the remains of Mariinka, a city in the Donetsk region. It is likely that Russia now has control over most of the populated area.

As of today, British intelligence claims that the Russian army currently controls most of the city's built-up area. In contrast, small areas on the western outskirts of Mariinka remain under the control of Ukrainian forces. British experts add that the current Russian operations against Mariinka are part of the invaders' autumn offensive, the priority of which is to expand control over the rest of the territory of the Donetsk region.

It should be noted that according to a preliminary assessment by British intelligence, more than 300,000 Russian soldiers have been reported as casualties since the start of the full-scale invasion. However, even officials from the Russian Federation do not know the exact number of fatalities.

Rubryka also reported that for nearly two months now, the Russian army has been attempting to take control of the city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. The enemy has been heavily bombarding the town's Avdiivka coke plant and other vital structures.

British intelligence noted earlier that the Russian army suffered heavy losses near Avdiivka, but there was no progress in three areas of the front.

Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of the operational-strategic group of troops "Tavria," reported that the Defense Forces of Ukraine are restraining the enemy on the Mariinka front in the Donetsk region, and the defense of the city continues.