Ukrainian troops have made a “tactical retreat” from three villages in the embattled east after Russia concentrated significant forces in several locations, said Ukraine’s top commander on Sunday, as per a Reuters report. 

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a statement that the Russian forces continue to attack “along the entire front line” of over 1,000 kilometres, according to an AP report. 

“The most difficult situation is in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions, where fierce battles continue,” said the top commander in an updated post on Telegram referring to two Ukrainian-held cities in the war-torn Donetsk region. 

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“The enemy has engaged up to four brigades in these directions, is trying to develop an offensive west of Avdiivka and Marinka, making its way to Pokrovsk and Kurakhove,” Syrskyi said, adding: “Units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, preserving the lives and health of our defenders, moved to new frontiers west of Berdychi, Semenivka and Novomykhailivka.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the international partners to speed up arms deliveries so that Kyiv could maintain its position and disrupt Russian plans, as per the Reuters report. 

Zelenskyy said he spoke with US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday and “underscored that Patriot systems are needed and as soon as possible.”

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Syrskyi said that the Ukrainian troops have taken up new positions west of villages Berdychi and Semenivka, both north of Avdiivka, and Novomykhailivka, further south near the town of Maryinka.

“In general, the enemy achieved certain tactical successes in these areas, but could not gain operational advantages,” he said. 

The fresh troops were being rotated in those areas to replace units that had suffered losses, added the top Ukrainian commander.