“Not only Chasiv Yar is a difficult town for Russia. Kostiantynivka, a year and a half. Bakhmut, two years. Every city, the Russians take for several years.”
Preston Stewart · Policy · November 2026
Context
Asked why Chasiv Yar has been so hard for Russia to take, the Ukrainian officer answers that every town in the area has taken Russia a year or more. A quick measure of the pace of the advance.
Transcript
…This film produced our brigade. And I give you on messenger the link for the film. And you see all about defense for Chasifyar. And now we are located not in the center city, but on the suburbs. On the suburbs city, we stay on Chasifyar. So Chasifyar is not all for Russia. Not all city for Russia.
Why has Chasivyar been so difficult for Russia to take?
Not only Chasifyar, difficult for Russians. Don't want to be too proud our soldiers, but not only Chasivyar, difficult town for Russia. Nia Chasifyar, Konstantinovka, city. One year, one and a half year. Bakhmut, two years. Liman year. So every city, Russians not stay. Every city to take Russians not only day or months or one year. Several years, every city now, Russians take for control.
You're describing some of the focus areas of the Russian military in Donetsk. You guys have been there the entire time. Do you get an opportunity to rest and go anywhere for a short period of time, maybe?
Oh, I say. Now, time to rest is the night, to sleep. It's the best time. No vacations. There are every soldier has vacations on the year for the 15, 20 days. But it's not always possible, this Hollywood for soldiers. So when we sleep, we are rest.
That's the rest is when you sleep.
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