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Although Russia controls the eastern and central parts of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region, Ukraine controls the western part of the city. Therefore, as Forbes reports , the widespread use of drones further complicates the already difficult task of capturing and holding urban areas. This city is of operational importance to both sides in the war. For Russia, capturing the city would help break Ukraine’s defensive "fortress belt" and open access to Kostiantynivka and Sloviansk, allowing them to conduct further offensive operations westward. At the same time, for Ukraine, Chasiv Yar is a key part of the defensive network that helps block Russia’s advance beyond Bakhmut. "The city’s elevated terrain makes it important, providing advantageous positions for artillery and drone operations, which improves surveillance and strike capabilities for the side that controls it," the article emphasizes. It is known that Russian attacks on Chasiv Yar began in April 2024, after the fall of Bakhmut. Initially, these strikes were aimed at breaking through Ukrainian defenses along the Seversk Donets-Donbas Canal, so the Russian army deployed significant manpower, airborne units, and reinforcements. "These attacks were accompanied by artillery fire, the use of glide bombs, and drones. Despite this concentration of military force, Russia achieved only slow, gradual success against the staunch Ukrainian defense and has still not been able to fully capture the city after two years of fierce fighting," the publication adds. Initially, the Russian occupiers believed they could quickly capture Chasiv Yar, given its small size and pre-war population of approximately 12,000. However, fighting raged block by block, as the Russian army attempted to advance from the eastern districts through the city center to the western districts.
"Throughout 2024 and early 2025, Russia repeatedly claimed to have captured the city, including several times loudly declaring full control over it. These claims were consistently refuted by Ukrainian officials and independent assessments, which indicate that Ukrainian troops continue to hold the western part of the city and are resisting the Russian advance," Forbes notes. In Chasiv Yar, the troop concentrations needed to clear and hold the street are extremely vulnerable to UAV strikes. The 24th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces took advantage of this vulnerability, using drones to disrupt Russian attacks. "Early Russian attacks relied on military vehicles, which were quickly destroyed by a combination of drones and artillery. Russia then switched to using small commercial vehicles, but they, too, were destroyed. In both cases, the heavily canalized road network made their movements easier to track, while their limited maneuverability reduced their ability to evade drone strikes," the publication explains. Later, the Russian invaders began using small groups of approximately three soldiers to seize forward positions. Although these infantry units attempt to use damaged buildings for cover, drones can track them inside and blow them up. Furthermore, UAV operators can operate from various concealed positions in and around Chasiv Yar. While they remain close enough to maintain control, they don’t have to venture into the open, making them difficult to detect and engage.
"Small teams may operate from buildings, using upper floors or basements for concealment. While some operators are likely located in Chasiv Yar itself, others appear to operate from neighboring towns within the city’s coverage area. Drones typically don’t follow predictable flight paths, further complicating attempts to track them to their launch points," the report notes. For Russia, the future prospects in the city are becoming uncertain. Although capturing the city would ensure a tactical and symbolic victory, its operational value may be diminished by the losses required to take it. "Russian forces have periodically shifted their focus to other areas along Ukraine’s defensive belt, suggesting that Chasiv Yar may no longer be the primary offensive zone. At the same time, the town still offers potential routes for future operations deep into Ukrainian defenses," Forbes believes.
To capture Chasiv Yar, Russia will have to combine human resources, technology, and tactical adaptation, rather than relying on a single approach, the publication’s experts note. They argue that increasing troop numbers could create a localized superiority and maintain pressure on Ukrainian defensive positions, but this could lead to even greater losses.
"The battle for Chasiv Yar illustrates a broader shift in urban warfare. While the need to seize and hold territory remains unchanged, the methods for achieving this goal are being transformed by drones.
