“The end of the railroad”: is Ukraine really leaving Donbas?
7 November 20:20
ANALYSIS FROM 
Ukraine no longer has a railroad connection with Donbas. Trains to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk have been canceled. The lines, once the lifeblood of the east, are now symbols of loss. Some in the military call it a “quiet exit from Donbas.” Others reject such thoughts, because the enemy can occupy every settlement for years and with huge losses. But is Ukraine really “leaving Donbas”? Is there a chance to reverse the situation at the front?
Vadym Kirpichenko of the 95th Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces shared his emotions in a post on social media.
The end of the railroad. Ukraine is quietly withdrawing from Donbas. No loud statements, no official comments – just step by step. And it seems that very soon this land will remain only in the memory of those who knew it as it really was – lively, noisy, hardworking,” Kirpichenko writes.
Thus, Ukrzaliznytsia has officially stopped running trains in the direction of Donetsk region. From now on, trains will only reach the stations of Husarivka or Barvinkove in the Kharkiv region. Then there are buses, checkpoints, and evacuation routes. For the residents of the east, this is not just a change in transportation, it is the line between “still Ukraine” and “already war.”
We will no longer hear the usual: “The Intercity high-speed train on the Kyiv-Kramatorsk route departs from the second platform,” Kirpichenko writes.
What can change the situation in Donbas?
In the commentary
The wording that Ukraine is leaving Donbas is a crime. This is exactly what Russian propaganda is trying to achieve – to create the impression of inevitable defeat,” Ievlev emphasizes.
According to him, the reality at the front is quite different.
Over the year, the Russian army has advanced only 3-5 kilometers. They have been trying to take Pokrovsk for a year and a half. They reached Dobropillya, got kicked in the teeth and are rolling back. Can we call it “leaving?” – Yevhen Ievlev
The soldier is convinced that three things are crucial for changing the situation:
- More means of striking, including long-range ones, to hit the enemy’s logistics.
- A sufficient number of personnel.
- Honest and continuous reports from commanders, without embellishment, so that decisions are made on the basis of reality, not reports.
So I can say for sure that saying “we are leaving Donbas” is absolutely wrong, because the guys are fighting for life and death there. And they are holding on for more than anyone in the world can understand,” Yevhen Ievlev
Military expert assesses the situation in Donetsk region
Military expert Roman Svitan in an exclusive commentary
The military is not panicking when it comes to statements like “Ukraine is withdrawing from Donbas.” However, there is an understanding that not everything has been done to strengthen the problem areas. According to the expert, the main problem is not the lack of people as such, but their organization. Svitan emphasizes that Ukraine has a powerful reserve
“Several hundred thousand law enforcement officers are still under armor; some of them – up to 10% – are already performing combat missions on the front line, and the rest are not yet included in this scheme,” Svitan says.
In his opinion, these reserves could be transferred to combat units, but this requires political decisions.
“To really solve the issue on the contact line and stop the Russian advance, it is necessary to remove the security forces and bring them into the newly created corps – a sufficient number of motivated fighters who are now in the law enforcement system,” explains Svitan.
The expert mentions the possibility of gradually involving up to 30% of the law enforcement agencies. In addition, according to him, there are other law enforcement agencies that could be structured and involved.
Svitan admits that formally, the “classifications” and legal issues are complicated, but emphasizes that the situation can be stabilized.
It is premature and, according to some military officials, dangerous to speak unequivocally about Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbas, as it fuels propaganda. However, the situation requires real solutions: more long-range weapons, additional reinforcements and honest, continuous reports from commanders.
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