River becomes defence against Russian advance in Donbas

Dr Jack Watling, an expert in land warfare at Rusi, a think tank, said that the river had become a crucial part of Ukraine’s defence in the less varied landscape of the Donbas. “The river is operationally important. If the Russians can’t secure a crossing point, then they are not going to get their army any further forward,” he said. “They will have to plan where they place pontoons and assault bridges. But every time the enemy needs to cross a bridge or gap, they make their movements predictable. That becomes a very good opportunity for the Ukrainians to inflict damage with artillery.”