Separatists Strengthen Control of Debaltseve

Russian-backed separatists strengthened their control of Debaltseve on February 20 after Ukrainian soldiers retreated from the strategic town two days before. The town lies almost halfway between the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk and connects Ukraine’s supply route from Artemovsk.

The capture of Debaltseve marks the rebels’ latest expansion of territory in Ukraine’s east after announcing in January that they had captured Donetsk airport and the main highway connecting Donetsk and Luhansk. Credit: YouTube/Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty