MOSCOW — Russia's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday (July 3) that its forces had taken control of a district in the key Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar, while Ukraine said the area was engulfed by intense fighting.

Chasiv Yar stands on high ground 20 km to the west of Bakhmut, a town Russian forces seized a year ago. It had been levelled by months of fierce battles.

Both sides see Chasiv Yar as a strategic site which Russia could use as a potential staging point to move westward through Donetsk region toward the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.

"Units of the South group of troops, as a result of dynamic actions, have taken full control of the "Novyi" district of the settlement of Chasiv Yar... and improved their positions in forward sectors," the Russian Defence Ministry said.

The Novyi district lies to the west of Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal which lies on the east side of the town.

On Wednesday, Ivan Petrechak, press officer for Ukraihe's 24th brigade defending the town, told Suspilne public television the situation was "critically difficult", with fighting around the canal.

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