Ukraine Announces Withdrawal From Key Eastern Town of Siversk on Christmas Eve

A key Ukrainian fortress has fallen on Christmas Eve. Ukraine’s military announced on Tuesday, December 24, 2025, that its forces have withdrawn from the battle-scarred town of Siversk in the eastern Donetsk region. The decision marks a significant setback for Kyiv, coming after months of heavy fighting and constant pressure from Russian forces as the war approaches its three-year mark.

A Calculated Retreat

In a statement on Telegram, Ukraine’s General Staff said the decision was made to “preserve the lives of our soldiers.” The statement acknowledged that Russian troops held a “significant advantage” in both manpower and equipment, staging relentless small-unit assaults in difficult weather. Ukrainian officials added that heavy losses were inflicted on the invading forces before the retreat and that Siversk remains “under the fire control of our troops.”

The confirmation comes nearly two weeks after Russian Lieutenant General Sergei Medvedev reported to President Vladimir Putin on December 11 that his troops had taken the town—a claim Kyiv denied at the time. Ukraine’s DeepState military monitoring site also reported late Tuesday that Russian forces had occupied Siversk.

The Gateway to the 'Fortress Belt'

Despite its modest pre-war population of 10,000, Siversk’s strategic value is immense. According to the Kyiv Independent, the town was key to the defense of northern Donetsk, shielding the larger cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, which form the “main bastions of Ukraine’s so-called ‘fortress belt.’” The loss of Siversk potentially exposes this critical defensive line to more direct Russian assault. According to Reuters, Russia controlled an estimated 19% of Ukrainian territory as of early December, including over 80% of Donetsk.

No Peace for Christmas

The battlefield development coincides with a bleak holiday period. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that a “massive attack” by Russiandrones and missiles on Monday night killed at least three people, including a four-year-old girl, across 13 regions. Meanwhile, Russian officials reported that Ukrainiandrone attacks killed four people in the Belgorod region. Pope Leo expressed disappointment that Russia had not agreed to a ceasefire on December 25, appealing for “at least 24 hours, a day of peace.”