The decision was made to preserve the lives of Ukrainian fighters and maintain unit combat capability. Despite significant losses, the aggressor continues active offensive actions and has superiority in manpower and equipment.
Intense fighting continues near Siversk.
The General Staff noted that Russians advanced due to their numbers and pressure from small assault groups in difficult weather conditions. Ukrainian troops also inflicted damage on the enemy.
"Ukraine's Defense Forces exhausted the enemy during battles for Siversk; every meter of the town came at a high cost to the enemy," the General Staff said.
Siversk is currently under Ukrainian fire control. The defenders are striking invasion forces in the town and cutting logistics to prevent further advances.
On Dec. 21, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), citing Ukrainian observer Kostiantyn Mashovets, wrote that Russian troops likely captured Siversk and advanced to a chalk quarry.
On Dec. 13, news outlet Ukrainska Pravda, citing a source in military command and two sources in brigades operating on this front, reported that Siversk was almost completely lost, and retaking it from the enemy would require reserves.
Russian troops began actively infiltrating Siversk from late October, taking advantage of dense fog.
ISW noted that Russia's efforts toward Siversk were extremely prolonged, especially considering the settlement covers about 10 square kilometers. Russian troops needed 41 months to advance roughly 12 kilometers from Lysychansk to Siversk's western administrative border.
"ISW first observed evidence that Russian forces entered Siversk's town limits no later than November 18, indicating that Russian forces likely took 33 days to completely seize the town (with an area of three Central Parks) once entering it," the report said.