As Russia Advances, Kyiv Holds Firm Amid Rising Tensions
Fighting has raged across Ukraine for more than three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. Over the past year, Moscow has steadily expanded its hold on territory, concentrating primarily in the east, while continuing a persistent barrage of air strikes on Kyiv and other major cities.
Russia Grinds Forward in the East
In eastern Ukraine, Russian forces have been advancing methodically through the wide open fields of Luhansk and Donetsk—collectively known as the Donbas—surrounding and overwhelming villages and towns. Moscow aims to gain full control of this area, as well as the western regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Although Russia held controversial referendums early in the war to annex these regions in a manner similar to Crimea in 2014, it has never fully secured them.
U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that any peace deal could involve “some swapping of territories,” while reports indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin may demand Kyiv surrender the parts of Donbas still under Ukrainian control. Speaking to reporters recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly rejected any proposal to cede Donbas, warning that such a concession could serve as a springboard for further Russian attacks.
Summer Offensive Targets Key Towns
After a slow start to its summer offensive, Russian troops launched a sudden push near the eastern town of Dobropillya, advancing approximately 10 kilometers (six miles) in a short period. This maneuver occurred just north of Pokrovsk, now considered the hottest spot on the front line.
Although Ukrainian forces have consistently faced superior Russian manpower, shortages in the east have left Pokrovsk increasingly vulnerable. Analysts at the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) report that Russian troops are attacking the city directly. They also warn that thousands of Ukrainian defenders risk being encircled, with ongoing Russian drone strikes severely hindering evacuation efforts.
As high-level talks between Trump and Putin loom, the situation in eastern Ukraine remains tense, with Kyiv resolutely defending its territory against Moscow’s persistent advances.