DONETSK, December 23. /TASS/. Russian forces have taken control of the Severny neighborhood of Chasov Yar in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), DPR head Denis Pushilin told Rossiya-24 television.

"We clearly realize that very hard efforts are being made to liberate Chasov Yar. And the Severny neighborhood in Chasov Yar is actually under control of the Russian Armed Forces," Pushilin said.

According to him, Russian forces have been advancing almost along the entire line of engagement in the region. "In the Velikaya Novosyolka sector [of the line of engagement], we have seen our units improve their positions, including the liberation of the locality of Novy Komar, while the enemy is being squeezed out from Kurakhovo. <…> Our troops continue working toward liberating the town. Also, our troops have been seen advancing toward Krasnoarmeisk (known as Pokrovsk in Ukraine - TASS)," Pushulin specified.

On December 18, the chief of operational staff at the Melody reconnaissance center of the Espanola Volunteer Brigade of Russia’s Battlegroup South, identified by the call sign Chukcha, told TASS that Russian assault units had secured a foothold and were advancing deep into the Severny neighborhood of Chasov Yar. He added that the neighborhood is mainly composed of private residences, most of which have been burned or destroyed.