Ukraine Army Chief Admits ‘Tactical’ Retreat Underway The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi has just issued a new dire assessment confirming widespread international reports that Ukraine forces are getting beaten back from the frontlines. He has confirmed that his outnumbered troops have fallen back to new positions on the eastern front, west of the villages of Berdychi and Semenivka, outside of Avdiivka – and near Novomykhailivka. Gen. Syrskyi has essentially admitted for the first time that a ‘tactical’ retreat is underway. “The situation at the front has worsened,” Syrskii wrote on Telegram, ironically coming just days after President Biden signed into effect a $61 billion defense aid package for Ukraine. The Pentagon has vowed to ship new weapons as fast as possible, while some Ukrainian officials have been warning that it is too little, too late. General Syrskyi and President Zelensky earlier in the war. “In general, the enemy achieved certain tactical successes in these areas, but could not gain operational advantages,” Syrskii said, noting too that Russia has been able to pour additional manpower into the east with ease. “The enemy has engaged up to four brigades in these directions, and is trying to develop an offensive west of Avdeevka and Maryinka,” the top Ukrainian commander said. The statement also comes following Russia’s defense ministry announcing that its forces had captured the village of Novobakhmutivka on Sunday. The BBC has also verified that a collapse of Ukraine’s defenses is underway in certain sectors of Donetsk: He confirmed Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from some of their positions in an area of Donetsk that had formed part of a defensive line, established after Russia captured Avdiivka in February. Much of the fighting has been taking place around Chasiv Yar, a Kyiv-controlled stronghold which Russia has been trying to reach after