Eastern Ukraine Braces for Russian Advance: Cities Under Threat Amid Ammunition Shortages

In the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the eastern front has become a focal point as Russian forces make significant advances toward key Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian troops, including those in the Donetsk region, are grappling with severe ammunition shortages, complicating their defense efforts.

Ukrainian gun commander OleksandrKozachenko’s unit, equipped with U.S.-supplied M777 howitzers, has seen a drastic reduction in their firing capacity. Previously able to fire up to 100 shells a day, the unit now often manages fewer than 10. “It’s a luxury if we can fire 30 shells,” Kozachenko lamented.

The U.S. has pledged to expedite the delivery of arms and ammunition following Congress’s recent approval of a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine. However, as of early May, artillery units visited by Reuters were still awaiting these crucial supplies, operating far below the necessary rate to counter Russian advances.

The 148th Separate Artillery Brigade and the 43rd Artillery Brigade, both stationed in the Donetsk region, have expressed an urgent need for more 155mm rounds. These Western-supplied munitions had previously provided a strategic advantage against Russian forces.

Russian troops, now significantly outnumbering and outgunning the Ukrainian defenders, have launched multiple offensives across the eastern Donbas region and along the northeastern border. These renewed efforts mark a pivotal shift in the conflict, initiated by Russia’s full-scale invasion over two years ago.

PasiParoinen, an analyst with Black Bird Group, reports that Russia has gained more territory in 2024 than it lost during Ukraine’s counteroffensive in 2023. Since the beginning of this year, Russian forces have claimed 654 square kilometers, compared to the 414 square kilometers lost to Ukraine between June and October last year. Remarkably, 222 square kilometers have been seized by Russia since early May alone.

Neither Russia’s defense ministry nor Ukraine’s military responded to requests for comment. However, Colonel PavloPalisa of Ukraine’s 93rd Mechanised Brigade, stationed near the strategic city of ChasivYar, anticipates a significant Russian push to break Ukrainian lines in the east. This expectation aligns with recent statements from the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, who warned of a critical phase in the war over the next two months as Russia seeks to capitalize on delays in Western weapon supplies.

“This will be a difficult period for the armed forces,” Palisa said, emphasizing that Russia aims to capture the entire Donbas industrial region by the year’s end.

The Russian advance is placing several major eastern cities, including Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk, in jeopardy. These cities serve as crucial military hubs for Ukraine’s defense. The threat has instilled fear among the hundreds of thousands of residents in the Donetsk region as Russian forces inch closer.

“We live only for today,” said Nina Shyshymarieva, a 31-year-old school teacher from Kostiantynivka, standing with her daughter as artillery echoed in the background. “We don’t know what will happen tomorrow.”

Russian artillery is now within easy range of Kostiantynivka, with the closest position advancing from 20 kilometers away at the start of the year to just 14 kilometers now. Interviews conducted by Reuters with soldiers, commanders, residents, and evacuation volunteers in eastern Ukraine depict a region plagued by deep uncertainty and relentless bombardment.

According to Donetsk regional governor VadymFilashkin, the area is subjected to daily artillery and air strikes, with targets hit at least a dozen times each day. The resulting devastation is evident in the ruins of homes, apartment blocks, and administrative buildings.

Volunteer rescuer OleksandrStasenko reports an increase in evacuation requests, particularly from Kostiantynivka and Kurakhove, as Russian forces continue their advance. “Wherever the front line is approaching, people are trying to leave as soon as possible,” he said. His group, East SOS, evacuates around two dozen people weekly, many of them elderly or infirm.

As Ukraine struggles to hold its eastern front, the need for timely and sufficient support from international allies remains critical. The outcome of these battles will significantly impact the course of the conflict and the future stability of the region.