Ukrainian forces are facing one of the most significant Russian offensives since the start of the large-scale invasion, said Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as reported by the Kyiv Independent. Throughout 2024, Ukraine has experienced a critical situation in defending its lines, especially in Donetsk. After meeting with a delegation of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, Syrskyi described the war environment as complex. He stressed that hostilities in some areas require constant renewal of the resources of Ukrainian units.

In today’s update of the Ukrainian General Staff, 126 exchanges of artillery fire were recorded between Ukrainian and Russian forces along the front. Russia continues to conduct offensives on the eastern front, focusing on the Toretsk, Kurakhove and Pokrovsk axes in the Donetsk region. Here, Ukrainian soldiers, outnumbered and outgunned, are slowly retreating. In recent weeks, the Ukrainian military has warned that Russia is stepping up operations in the south of the Zaporizhia region. At the same time, in the Kharkiv governorate, Ukrainian forces liberated the village of Kruhliakivka in mid-October, a location that Kiev intelligence considers crucial for the defense of Kupiansk. Russian troops are reportedly trying to open passages near the Oskil River to advance towards Kupiansk.

Estonian military intelligence estimates that Russian forces have occupied about 150 square kilometers in the Donetsk region over the past seven days. This information was provided by Ants Kiviselg, colonel and commander of the Estonian Ministry of Defense Intelligence Center. According to Kiviselg, Russian forces are most successfully capturing the districts of the Donetsk region, especially Pokrovsky, Kurakhivskyi, Vugledarskyi and Velikonovosililkivskyi. Over the past few days, Russia has gained additional territory in these areas. Russian forces continue to maintain the initiative along the entire front line, gradually forcing Ukrainian troops to retreat further.