US intelligence admits Russian military breakthrough in Donetsk and Kharkov

According to RIA Novosti, speaking at a hearing before the US Senate Defense Committee on April 2, US Director of National Intelligence Avril Hines said that Russia is making increasing progress on the battlefield, with the potential for tactical breakthroughs on the front lines in areas such as Donetsk and Kharkov.

According to Hines, the US does not predict when the Russia-Ukraine conflict will end, and does not expect a resolution to the conflict in the near future.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director of the Ukrainian General Intelligence Service Skibitsky warned in an interview with the Economist magazine that Chasov Yar would certainly fall, and becoming "the second Avdeevka" was just a matter of time. General Skibitsky assessed that the current situation in Ukraine was the most difficult since the conflict began. "It is not clear how Ukraine can win on the battlefield," Mr. Skibitsky shared.

The difficult situation on the front was also acknowledged by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky. According to General Syrsky, the hottest spots are still places like Ivanovskoye and Chasov Yar in Donetsk.

Earlier, Mr. Sysky informed his Western partners that the situation on the battlefield was "complicated, with a tendency to escalate" due to a lack of weapons.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said last week that Russian troops were taking the initiative along the entire front line and were continuing to push the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of their positions. The settlements of Pervomaiskoe, Bogdanovka and Novomikhailovka in Donetsk have been liberated. In addition, this week, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the tactical villages of Semenovka and Berdychi have come under Russian control.