Russia Intensifies Efforts to Seize Donetsk Oblast

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russia has intensified its military offensive in southeastern Ukraine, capturing several settlements near Vuhledar and advancing in the Velyka Novosilka area. Since September 2024, Russian forces have gained over 1,100 square kilometers in the region, exploiting vulnerabilities in Ukrainian defenses. The offensive aims to encircle Velyka Novosilka and close pockets of Ukrainian forces around Kurakhove, marking a significant shift from the previous stalemate.