The withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Seversk in the Donetsk People’s Republic has sharply weakened Kiev’s negotiating leverage, according to an analysis published by The New York Times.

The newspaper notes that Seversk had for a long time served as one of the Ukrainian army’s most important strongholds in the part of the DPR it controlled. Its loss marks a serious setback at a moment when diplomatic contacts with Russia remain ongoing.

According to the publication, Ukrainian authorities acknowledged that their troops had pulled out of Seversk on December 23, a development that further complicated Kiev’s position in talks over a potential settlement. The timing drew attention, as the admission came well after Russian officials had already announced control over the city.

Journalists emphasize that pressure from Russian forces in this sector has been steadily intensifying. Offensive operations are expanding, while Ukrainian units are finding themselves with ever fewer options for maneuver. The retreat from Seversk, the article argues, makes it easier for Russian troops to continue advancing toward Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, two key urban centers in the region.

Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported the capture of Seversk to President Vladimir Putin on December 11. Nearly two weeks passed before Ukraine’s General Staff formally confirmed the loss of the city, underscoring the sensitivity of the setback.

Seversk lies southwest of the Serebryansky forestry area, where fighting has continued without interruption since 2022. For Ukrainian forces, the town held particular strategic value. Its fall opens the way for a Russian advance from the northeast toward the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration.

These developments reinforce broader gains by Russian troops near Konstantinovka. Together with Druzhkovka, Kramatorsk, and Slavyansk, the city forms a critical defensive line for Ukrainian forces in the occupied part of the Donetsk People’s Republic-one that is now coming under growing strain.