Russia focuses on Donetsk region: UK intelligence analyzes frontline developments

This information was shared by the UK Ministry of Defense.

According to the report, Russian forces have seized control of several small settlements and pushed 9 kilometers deeper into parts of Donetsk region over the past week. Analysts attribute these gains to the capture of Vuhledar in early October 2024.

In the southern Donetsk region, Russian troops have taken Hirnyk and claim to have also captured Kurakhivka. Approximately 15 kilometers southeast of Pokrovsk, they have occupied Selydove, potentially increasing pressure on the strategic logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

Russia continues to prioritize the southern Donetsk front, maintaining a favorable force balance in this area, which partly explains the faster pace of their advance, the report stated.

Meanwhile, Russia continues recruiting large numbers of troops to bolster its operations in southern Ukraine.

• In the past 24 hours, Russian forces secured control over the village of Stepanivka in the Donetsk region and advanced near four other Ukrainian settlements.