Refractory Plant, Decisive Battle for Chasov Yar

The refractory materials factory was the site of the decisive battle to capture and hold the Chasov Yar fortress between the Russian and Ukrainian armies.

The Russian Armed Forces (RFAF) offensive on the Chasov Yar fortress, in addition to having to cross the Severski Donets – Donbass canal, also had to cross the area of the Refractory Materials Factory, which was the site of the decisive battle to capture and hold the Chasov Yar fortress between the Russian and Ukrainian armies.

Attacking and defending the core defensive position of the Refractory Plant was extremely difficult. The plant area consisted of 37 buildings, covering only 0.5 square kilometers. Each building was turned into a three-dimensional fortress by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU): anti-tank guns were placed on the first floor, snipers were ambushed on the second floor, and mortar batteries were placed in the basement.

To destroy potential threats, Russian tactical aviation dropped FAB guided bombs, ranging in weight from 1,500 kg to 3,000 kg. The buildings in the refractory plant area have withstood more than 500 heavy bombings, and from above, the place looks like the surface of the moon. One Ukrainian soldier described the scene as follows: "There are no buildings here, only concrete powder and rubble."

After two weeks of constant stalemate between the two sides, the RFAF launched a siege attack from another direction, targeting the logistical supply line to the Ukrainian troops fighting at the Refractory Plant and dispersing the fighting force into small, heavily armed infantry groups, just as they had when attacking Bakhmut.

Russian special forces responsible for the frontal assault broke into the industrial pipeline and launched an attack on the core position of the refractory plant from underground.

After nearly a month of fighting, on December 12, 2024, the Russian army finally captured the Refractory Materials Factory, which connects the mountainous area north of Chasov Yar with the central urban area, with no small amount of damage, but it was a worthy victory.

Expert Zhang Hong, a researcher at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences , said that Ukraine's biggest concern is that Russian troops will use natural gas pipelines, underground water, electricity and gas pipelines to infiltrate and sabotage AFU defense positions from behind.

This new tactic, developed by Russia from the Battle of Avdiivka, to the Battle of Toretsk and especially the Battle of Sudzha in Kursk, included breaking into natural gas pipelines to break through Ukrainian defenses, infiltrating and sabotaging behind enemy lines, and attacking from both inside and outside.

Ukrainian media reported that AFU is concerned that the Russian army will repeat this "tunnel warfare" strategy, using natural gas pipelines, oil pipelines, and even urban gas pipelines... as key points for infiltration and breakthroughs from behind enemy lines.

On January 19, 2025, the RFAF captured most of the Chasov Yar urban area, leaving only the high-rise area south of the Refractory Plant and a neighborhood called Shevchenko still under AFU control. It was not until March that the RFAF resumed its offensive in Chasov Yar.

According to expert Truong Hong, the continuous battles in Chasov Yar are linked to diplomatic and domestic political dynamics. However, the US-Ukraine relationship has seriously deteriorated after Mr. Trump took office as US President earlier this year.

To demonstrate Ukraine’s military might and bolster European confidence, the AFU took the initiative to launch offensives and counter-offensives in Chasov Yar and Donbass. Although these actions had some diplomatic and political impact, they did not change the conflict’s dynamics, which were Ukraine weak and Russia strong; with Ukraine on the defensive and Russia on the offensive.

Shevchenko District is the last urban area controlled by Ukrainian forces in Chasov Yar. To capture this area, the Russians deployed TOS-1A heavy thermobaric rocket launchers. The powerful firepower of the Russians caused heavy casualties among the Ukrainians.

In July 2025, Russian forces suddenly intensified their attacks on Sumy and Pokrovsk. Fifty thousand Russian troops began an attack on the northern part of Sumy Oblast. In Pokrovsk, a defense center in eastern Ukraine, an additional 110,000 Russian troops were deployed for the siege.

The Ukrainian army, thinly dispersed, was forced to withdraw a large number of troops from Chasov Yar, leaving only one brigade to continue operating there. Due to the disparity in forces, the fierce battle that lasted 16 months finally ended, with the Ukrainian army forced to retreat.

Today, Chasov Yar is in ruins, and its fall, like the first domino, not only deprived Ukraine of important strategic depth in the Donbass region, but also put another nearby strategic location, Kostiantynivka, in jeopardy.

The Russian military eventually adopted a scorched earth strategy, leveling the buildings in Chasov Yar with guided bombs to destroy the underground defense network and UAV control positions of the AFU. Since 2024, Ukraine has adjusted its tactics, moving from a defensive posture to an active one: defending when possible and retreating when not possible to preserve its forces.

Kiev, relying on Western military aid, has built a solid “Donbass shield,” but now a significant crack has appeared in that shield. Some military analysts believe that the fall of Chasov Yar is a turning point, signaling that the Russians will no longer rely on slow tactical advances, but will launch an operational-level offensive that will finally crush Ukrainian forces across eastern Ukraine.

With the fall of Chasov Yar, the remaining three “fortresses” north of Donetsk, Konstantinovka, Druzhkovka and Slavyansk, are now completely under threat from Russian firepower deployed at Chasov Yar. Russian vanguard forces are advancing towards Konstantinovka, another strategic hub in eastern Ukraine. The latest assessment from the Russian General Staff suggests that Ukraine’s defenses could collapse within the next 60-90 days. (photo source: Sina, Military Review, Ukrinform).

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