Russia wants to capture not just Donbas, but to push further – Kara Nebesna UAV crew commander

He made these remarks during a broadcast on the Espreso TV channel.

“The Russians are relentlessly storming our positions. It’s clear they’re not limiting themselves to the Donetsk region or the Donbas. They aim to push forward. I used to think their ambitions were confined to the regions they claim as part of Russia under their so-called constitution. Now, I’m convinced they’re aiming for more. But Ukraine’s Defense Forces are holding the line, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy, and stopping them from taking our land,” Otchenash stressed.

The commander also pointed out a critical challenge faced by Ukraine’s Defense Forces – a severe shortage of personnel. He emphasized that the number of people ready to defend the country directly impacts its ability to resist aggression.

"This issue is serious. Russia is dealing with manpower problems too, but they have a noticeable influx of young, energetic fighters. Many of them are signing contracts at 25 years old," Otchenash added.

• Meanwhile, on November 26, Ukrainian forces recorded 224 combat clashes across the front. The Russian forces are currently focusing their attacks most aggressively in the Pokrovsk direction.