The Russian army continues its aggressive offensive in the Donetsk region, increasing pressure on Ukrainian positions. According to Julian Röpcke, an analyst for the German publication BILD, Russian forces have captured eight villages south of Pokrovsk and are attempting to bypass the city from the south. Due to a shortage of personnel, the Ukrainian Armed Forces can only slow down the enemy’s advance.
Röpcke points out that only seven kilometers remain to the borders of the Dnipropetrovsk region, and the fighting could spill over into this area within weeks.
Russian Advances in Donbas
According to the DeepState platform, Russian troops have recently made progress in areas near Toretsk, Zelenyi, Petropavlivka, Vozdvyzhenka, Baranivka, and Pishchane. They have also captured several settlements, including Lozova, Ivanivka, and Shevchenko, further complicating the situation for Ukrainian defenders.
Despite this, Ukrainian forces continue to resist effectively. In the Donetsk region, Ukrainian troops entered the village of Berdyn, although analysts doubt this is the main direction of the counteroffensive. Meanwhile, intensified attacks from the Russian-occupied Sudzha toward Velyke Soldatske are reported, with Ukrainian forces gaining partial control of the village of Cherkaske Porychne.
Ukrainian Advances in Kursk Region
Amid the Russian offensive, Ukrainian troops have made progress in three districts of the Kursk region. According to ISW, the Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted mechanized attacks supported by armored vehicles, advancing in the southern parts of Berdyn and entering southern sections of another settlement. Operations have also been intensified in the Leonidiv region and east of Sudzha near Pushkarne.
Analysts note that Ukrainian forces are employing precision long-range strikes and electronic warfare systems effectively, which support ground operations and complicate the activities of Russian artillery.
Russian Reaction and Growing Panic
Russian propaganda outlets confirm Ukrainian activity in the Kursk region but downplay the scale of the breakthroughs, claiming “repelled attacks.” Meanwhile, Russian military observers report significant issues near Sudzha, where Ukrainian defenders are achieving local successes, while the Russian army struggles with ineffective drones and artillery.
At the same time, panic is growing in Russian channels about the potential capture of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, located near Kurchatov. Some reports indicate that Russian forces risk losing control over the settlement of Tyotkino.
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Also, read about the tragic consequences of Russian aggression in Ukraine in the article “Russian Aggression and the Tragic Fate of Ukrainian Teenager: The Story of Kidnapped Sasha Yakushenko”.