Russian forces are advancing across the Donbas in various directions and successfully occupying villages and settlements, reports Hungarian financial news outlet Portfolio.
Citing reports from Reuters, Ukrainian military bloggers and other sources, the paper notes that two settlements, both north and south of the city of Kurakhove have fallen, Zolotya Niva and Zorjane Perse.
Although Ukraine’s General Staff has not confirmed the loss of the villages, it admitted that the sector around Kurakhove “was the site of the heaviest clashes on the eastern front.”
In recent days, Ukrainian forces have been forced to retreat in other areas as well, with last week serving as a special blow to Kyiv with the fall of Ugledar (Vuhledar) after Ukrainian forces previously successfully defended the city for two years. The city, which is strategically important, was labeled a “fortress” by its previous defenders due to its massive tower blocks that rose up from the surrounding plains.
On Monday, the spokesman of the Ukrainian army announced that Russian troops had penetrated the outskirts of Toreck.
Igor Kimakovsky, an adviser to the Russian administration of the Donetsk region, told Russian media that Russian troops “have penetrated the city center from different directions and now control all high-rise residential buildings.”
Russian advances are not just being touted by Russia, but also confirmed by Ukrainian military bloggers. A number of them confirmed that Russia gained control of the center of Toreck and that fighting is raging in the northeastern neighborhoods.
According to Portfolio, “the bloggers admitted that the initiative in the region belongs to the Russian army.”
Russian forces have also captured Verkhnokamyanskoe and Grigorovka in Siversk’s direction.
Images and video of Russian troops were seen raising their flag over the ruins of Grigorovka. Front-line sources also reported that Russian troops have already entered Serebyianka and are battling their way to the center of the town.
According to Ukrainian media outlets, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have begun building fortifications and preparing the Dnipropetrovsk region to defend against Russia’s offensive, representing efforts to build up new fortifications as the Russians continue their advance.
Ukraine says that Russian forces are suffering massive casualties during their advances, with up to approximately 1,200 dead and wounded every day. However, even if these figures are accurate, Russian forces can afford to lose far more troops than Ukraine. At the same time, they continue to advance despite such heavy losses.
