Marinka no longer exists, and our troops have withdrawn to new positions - Zaluzhnyi

Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said that the town of Marinka in the Donetsk region no longer exists. He said this against the backdrop of statements by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu about the complete capture of Marinka.

Zaluzhnyi also said that Ukrainian troops had withdrawn to the outskirts of Marinka in some places and dug in, while in other places they had dug in a little further. He said this at a press conference on December 26.

"We are defending every piece of our land. But the lives of our soldiers are more important to us," the Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief said.

Zaluzhnyi added that our troops are still in the northern part of the settlement and have prepared a defensive line outside the settlement, but "we can say that it is no longer there." The enemy's tactics in Marinka are exactly the same as in Bakhmut. The occupiers are destroying street by street and block by block, digging up every stone.

Earlier, it was reported that since 2014, Russian occupants have been trying to capture the town of Marinka in the Donetsk region. Over the years of fighting, which is still ongoing, the town has been completely destroyed. For more than a year now, there has been no civilian population in Marinka, and not a single building has survived.

As reported earlier, heavy fighting was going on for the city, according to British intelligence. Russia is likely seeking to take control of two highways to further advance toward Kurakhove, but despite some successes, a major Russian breakthrough is highly unlikely.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!