Ukraine retreats from Siversk after protracted battle with Russian forces

Tuesday 23 December 2025 - 17:38

By: Dakir Madiha

Ukraine retreats from Siversk after protracted battle with Russian forces

After more than three years of intense fighting, Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the strategic city of Siversk in Donetsk Oblast, marking a significant tactical shift in the ongoing war. The withdrawal follows months of heavy combat that exhausted Ukrainian forces and inflicted high casualties on both sides.

A costly defense

Ukraine’s General Staff announced the retreat, explaining that the move aimed to preserve soldiers’ lives and sustain combat readiness in the face of overwhelming Russian numbers. Commanders noted that Russian assault units, operating in harsh winter conditions, repeatedly attacked fortified Ukrainian positions throughout the city.

Despite losing ground, Kyiv’s military leadership described the battle as a deliberate effort to weaken Russian capabilities. "Every meter of Siversk came at a high cost to the enemy," the statement read, asserting that Ukrainian artillery maintains fire control over parts of the city and surrounding routes.

Strategic consequences

Siversk, once home to around 10,000 people, has been reduced to ruins after relentless combat since 2022. Its fall opens a new axis for Russian operations toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk two major strongholds that anchor Ukraine’s defensive line across northern Donetsk. Military observers note that the loss of Siversk may increase pressure on Ukraine’s remaining fortress cities but also represents a deliberate tradeoff to avoid encirclement and preserve manpower.

Russian forces had pushed toward the city for over a year, seeking to consolidate control of Donetsk after seizing Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk. Analysts estimate that it took Moscow’s troops more than a month to secure full control of Siversk once they entered its outskirts in November.

Ukrainian reports from late December confirmed that Russian advances had intensified along the Siverskyi Donets River, straining local defenses. Meanwhile, political developments continue abroad, with Washington hosting peace negotiations involving U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian representatives an attempt to reopen direct dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow.