Ukrainian Forces Achieve Four New Breakthroughs in Donbas Front, Milbloggers Confirm

An Institute for the Study of War map identifies four Ukrainian breakthroughs along the eastern Donbas front, notably east of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk—key cities in Russia’s “Fortress Belt” strategy. Russian milbloggers, often called Z-bloggers, reported the liberation of Ozerne and forward movement around Malynivka, Holubivka, Pyskunivka and southern Minkivka, as well as crossing the Siverskyi Donets River. These gains challenge President Putin’s recent claim of capturing 500 square miles in September, which the ISW called “hallucinations” given a net Russian loss of 30 square miles.

Analysts say the advances, part of Operation Vivaldi led by Ukrainian Third Army Corps commander Andriy Biletski, have strengthened positions north of Lyman and hindered Russian attempts to cut vital highways. Meanwhile, a Russian missile strike on a bus in Kramatorsk killed at least 33 civilians, underscoring the war’s humanitarian toll.