Oleksandr Syrskyi said Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from positions in the eastern Donetsk region.

Russia is trying to take advantage of its superiority in manpower and artillery before Ukrainian forces get much-needed supplies of new US weapons.

The US last week agreed a $61bn (£49bn) package of military aid for Ukraine.

But new US weapons are yet to make their way to the frontlines, where Ukrainian troops have been struggling for months with a shortage of ammunition, troops and air defences.

"The situation at the front has worsened," Gen Syrskyi said in a post on the Telegram messaging service on Sunday.

He confirmed Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from some of their positions in an area of Donetsk that had formed part of a defensive line, established after Russia captured Avdiivka in February.

Much of the fighting has been taking place around Chasiv Yar, a Kyiv-controlled stronghold which Russia has been trying to reach after seizing Avdiivka.

New defensive lines had been taken up further to the west in some areas, with Gen Syrskyi conceding the loss of territory to the advancing Russians.

Moscow had secured "tactical successes in some sectors," he said.

Gen Syrskyi added that rested Ukrainian brigades were being rotated in those areas to replace units that had suffered losses.

Russia's defence ministry earlier on Sunday reported its troops had captured the village of Novobakhmutivka, around 10 km (6 miles) north of Avdiivka.[img][/img]

Poor Ukraine. They were led to this senseless war.

Majority of the Russian troops are not even Russians but contractors hence no noise from Russia as most of their loved ones aren't part of the war

There was this report of Russia recruiting 1,000 men daily to fight in Ukraine. Though the 1k might be exaggerated but that's to show the seriousness of Russia.

After the world war 2 , the agreement was simple, Soviet Union should withdraw all their troops from Germany while NATO won't step a foot into any of the Eastern Europe countries, like 5 Eastern Europe countries are already in NATO, why moving again to Russia border by forcing Ukraine to join NATO?

This war is becoming a comedy.

OgwashiBoy1:
This war is becoming a comedy.

Mission accomplished already as USA have colonized Ukraine in 21st century.

Financially, they are exhausted as they have used their reserves to buy weapons from those who misled them, USA and NATO

Now that there country is in shambles, it must be rebuilt which is where USA developers are coming in to play. They can do that as those who cares but in exchange for......

Natural resources like wheats ...

The United States of Americans are experts in stealing especially where there's crude oil and so and so forth

helinues:


Mission accomplished already as USA have colonized Ukraine in 21st century.

Financially, they are exhausted as they have used their reserves to buy weapons from those who misled them, USA and NATO

Now that there country is in shambles, it must be rebuilt which is where USA developers are coming in to play. They can do that as those who cares but in exchange for......

Natural resources like wheats ...

Urheadmaster:
The United States of Americans are experts in stealing especially where there's crude oil and so and so forth

The wickedness of some African leaders na child play to some of those Western countries.

Imagine USA recently approving $9bn+ in aids to those which they sold weapons to kill themselves while in their own country USA, there are millions of homeless people, millions of drug addicts, how about the gun violence?

Americans don't literally practice democracy because if 70% of the Americans can be against the approval of the aids yet it was approved by the Us Senate, then Democracy is in shambles. And that's one of the many policies majority of the Americans have been frowning about yet they are just helpless