A battalion commander named Alexander Troshin, who earned the rank of major for his role in the capture of a settlement called Maryinka, spoke on a live broadcast of a national channel about a phone call from the Russian president. The account shared on air highlighted how the moment unfolded and how it was received back at base, illustrating the sense of duty and the emotional toll that such moments can take on a frontline leader.
Troshin described that control of Maryinka shifted to a specific brigade in the mid-afternoon, after which he relayed the development to the senior command through radio communications. The exchange underscored the procedural flow from frontline actions to higher echelon awareness, and it reflected the cadence of how information moves under pressure in a live military operation.
In describing the experience, the major recalled the tremor in his hands as he activated the radio, a natural reaction to the gravity of the moment. He recounted how, in the morning, he left Maryinka only to be summoned by the principal military leaders. First the Chief of the General Staff spoke, and later the Commander-in-Chief addressed him at noon. The official acknowledgment by the top leadership, he said, was a remarkable honor that underscored the significance of the operation and the responsibilities that come with advancing to a decisive point on the map.
On a reporting note from December 10, outlets described the Russian flag being raised over Maryinka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Journalists noted that assault formations solidified their positions, reinforced key lines, and conducted reconnaissance in nearby forested belts and the adjacent village area. Amid the movements, Ukrainian forces reportedly attempted to disrupt rotation by using mortars and grenade launchers, but these efforts did not alter the overall progress described by the reporting. This sequence of events painted a picture of coordinated actions across multiple units and the evolving tactical situation on the ground.
Further statements from December 25 indicated that high-level officials confirmed the situation on the ground, with the defense minister of Russia publicly stating that Russian forces had achieved full control of Maryinka within the Donetsk region. The confirmation was presented as a culmination of a campaign that had involved planning, reconnaissance, and sustained combat activity across different sectors within the broader front. The narrative reflected the complexity of military operations, the coordination between leadership and troops, and the enduring dynamics of a contested area with shifting control and ongoing deployments.
In related regional developments, earlier commentary from Britain had suggested a pronounced concern about the stability of frontline positions around Avdiivka, with predictions that the area could face major changes in the near term. The tone of that analysis echoed broader international attention to the evolving situation, though it stood separate from the official statements and timelines issued by involved military authorities. The interplay between local actions, command decisions, and international commentary illustrates how frontline events quickly become part of a wider strategic conversation, shaping perceptions and responses across multiple audiences and time zones.