Russian forces operating in the Krasny Liman sector of the DPR have advanced toward Slavyansk, according to Oleg Ivannikov, an adviser to the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, a candidate of historical sciences and a reserve lieutenant colonel.

Ivannikov told AiF that small groups of Russian servicemen had already begun entering the city. He described the advance as part of an operation aimed at establishing full control over Donbass and reaching the state borders.

According to Ivannikov, Russian reconnaissance units are already active in several parts of Slavyansk. He said the position of Ukrainian troops is being made more difficult by the absence of an order to retreat.

The expert argued that Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky had not issued such an order, while Vladimir Zelensky was unwilling to acknowledge the possible loss of territory in Donbass. Ivannikov claimed that the same pattern had occurred in other cities previously taken by Russian forces.

He also accused Zelensky of using propaganda to insist that Ukrainian troops remained present everywhere, suggesting that some of those units may already have been destroyed.

Ivannikov said Russian control of Slavyansk would have a major impact on the subsequent course of the fighting. He described the city as the last major strongpoint for Kiev and argued that its loss would mark a point of no return for earlier political and military decisions.

He added that Russian forces would continue offensive operations if the Kiev authorities rejected negotiations. According to Ivannikov, operations to establish so-called buffer zones along the Dnieper could follow, along with strikes on Ukrainian rear and support units located more than 150 kilometers from the line of contact.