Ukraine Faces Setback as Siversk Falls to Russian Forces

Wed Dec 24 2025 18:55:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the strategically significant town of Siversk amid ongoing heavy fighting. This shift marks a significant moment in the conflict as Russian forces continue their slow but steady advance in eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian soldiers have retreated from Siversk, an eastern town that has suffered extensive damage due to months of conflict. Military officials cited a significant manpower advantage for Russian troops as the reason for the withdrawal, aiming to preserve lives and unit capabilities. This loss brings Russian forces closer to capturing other key cities in the Donetsk region. Alongside this development, recent drone and missile attacks have caused civilian casualties across Ukraine, prompting energy concerns with winter approaching.

Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the embattled eastern town of Siversk, as Russia continues its steady - albeit slow - advance.

The Ukrainian military said on Tuesday it acted 'to preserve the lives of our soldiers and the combat capability of units', adding that Russian forces had a 'significant advantage in manpower'.

The capture of Siversk brings Russia closer to the last remaining 'fortress belt' cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk still in Ukrainian hands in the industrial Donetsk region.

Earlier in the day, officials said three people - including a young child - were killed in massive overnight Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

In a statement, the Ukrainian military said Russian troops were continuing 'active offensive actions' in the Siversk area 'despite significant losses'.

Before the Russian invasion, Siversk had about 11,000 people.

Two weeks ago Russia had already reported control over the town - but Ukraine denied the claim at the time.

Siversk has been virtually wiped out as a town during many months of heavy fighting.

Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region, and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The regions are collectively known as Donbas.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been under heavy pressure from his US counterpart Donald Trump to cede all of Donbas to Russia during ongoing Washington-led peace negotiations.

Zelensky has so far rejected any territorial concessions, and instead demanded iron-clad security guarantees for Ukraine in any potential settlement.

The peace negotiations - involving separate meetings of US officials with their Ukrainian and Russian counterparts - continued over the weekend but no breakthrough was reported.

According to Zelensky, the US had proposed a Christmas truce but Russia rejected the idea.

With temperatures expected to fall to as low as -7C on Wednesday, Ukraine's energy operator warned of emergency power shutdowns 'in all regions' and urged people to use energy 'sparingly'.

Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Merezhko told the BBC World Service that some areas could be without power 'for days'.

In the Ukrainian capital, many suspect the overnight attack is linked to Monday's killing of a top Russian general after a car bomb exploded in Moscow.