NextFin news, On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Russian military forces intensified their offensive to capture the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine, concentrating on a string of four cities known as the "fortress belt" that remain under Ukrainian control. This region, once Ukraine's industrial heartland, is now approximately 70% controlled by Russia, which has been steadily pushing Ukrainian forces back.
Ukraine's armed forces are defending the cities of Lyman, Sloviansk, Kostiantynivka, and Kramatorsk, which analysts describe as a critical defensive line. Russian troops are avoiding direct urban assaults, having learned from costly battles such as Bakhmut, and instead are employing flanking maneuvers and infiltration tactics. Small groups of Russian soldiers are sent through gaps between Ukrainian units to cut off supply routes and occupy strategic positions, though these incursions come with heavy casualties.
Colonel Pavlo Yurchuk, commander of Ukraine's 63rd Mechanized Brigade defending northern Donetsk, explained that while Russian infiltration units achieve tactical gains, these do not translate into strategic control. He expressed confidence that Russia's deep maneuvers will ultimately fail due to logistical difficulties in sustaining such operations.
Russian forces have also increased the use of drones and glide bombs to target Ukrainian troops and supply lines, aiming to weaken Ukrainian strongholds without engaging in costly frontal battles. Recent Russian advances have been reported near Lyman in the north and Pokrovsk in the south, with the latter tightening the encirclement around Kostiantynivka, a city largely deserted due to the conflict.
Ukraine's military faces significant challenges, including shortages of troops, supplies, and effective command management. Taras Chmut, director of the Come Back Alive Foundation, highlighted systemic flaws in troop deployment and training, noting that many brigades are severely understrength in combat despite official numbers. He warned that without reforms and fresh resources, Ukraine's defensive capacity will continue to erode.
Experts caution that the fall of the fortress belt would displace thousands of civilians and cause further economic damage. Despite the pressure, Ukrainian commanders remain determined to hold the line, but acknowledge the prolonged conflict and Russia's persistent advances pose a severe test for Ukraine's armed forces this autumn.
The ongoing conflict, now in its fourth year, shows no signs of abating, with Russia's incremental territorial gains in Donetsk signaling a protracted and challenging phase ahead for Ukraine.
Sources: Associated Press via Goshen News, Ottumwa Courier, SSBCrack News (September 23, 2025)
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