Russian President Vladimir Putin defies calls for peace by ordering troops to launch a major fresh offensive on the eastern front as he prepares for so-called peace talks with President Trump
Russian forces have launched a major new offensive on Ukraine’s eastern front just days before a crucial so-called Alaska peace summit between Washington and Moscow. The sudden Kremlin ground assault came as Ukraine ’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Moscow was preparing “movements that indicate preparations for new offensive operations.”
Ukraine’s military has deployed elite troops from its National Guard The 1st Azov Corps to plug defences at Pokrovsk, in Donetsk, where Russia is concentrating its attack. It comes amid escalating fears Putin will during his meeting with President Trump try to hoodwink the US leader into believing Zelensky is the one who does not want a peace deal to end the near three and a half year war.
Zelensky warned that Putin: “.. is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire or an end to the war. “Putin is determined only to present a meeting with America as his personal victory and then continue acting exactly as before, applying the same pressure on Ukraine as before.” It comes after Putin warned weeks ago of nuclear war after unleashing another night of hell on Ukraine
Ukrainian military sources say Azov commanders reported to Kyiv that Russia is attacking in waves of “suicidal attacks,” sacrificing troops by the hundreds daily. In a statement the Azov Corps said: “The situation remains difficult and dynamic.
“The enemy in attempting to advance in this sector is sustaining heavy losses in manpower and equipment.” Intelligence assessments this morning revealed Russian troops had quickly swept north in a two pronged attack, unusually gaining almost seven miles. Their aim is to land-grab the entire industrial heartland of Ukraine’s Donetsk region so they can claim this in forthcoming negotiations.
Ultimately they want to control the two main cities of Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka then dominate highways heading west. It is believed Putin has ordered the assault in the area in a bid to force Zelensky into accepting the loss of territory in any peace negotiation.
But it is coming at an immense cost with Russia occasionally suffering losses of 1,000 troops a-day to death or injury. Latest alarming reports suggest that Moscow troops have probably seized settlements to support further offensive operations as they are trying to pierce Ukrainian defences.
The battlefront is now touching the Dobropillia–Kramatorsk highway, which was used regularly by civilian and military traffic just weeks ago. Dobropillia lies 70 miles northwest of Russian-occupied Donetsk, and about 15 miles north of the embattled city of Pokrovsk.
Zelensky said: “we all support President Trump’s determination, and together we must shape positions that will not allow Russia to deceive the world once again.” US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says it might be premature to call the Russian advances in the Dobropillya area an operational-level breakthrough.
It added:”Russian forces will very likely seek to mature their tactical advances into an operational-level breakthrough in the coming days.” The assessment added that the advance is a copycat of Russian military doctrine using large numbers of troops to be sacrificed in repeated waves.
A similar tactic was used in a bid to take over a key town last year. It added: “Russian forces used a similar tactical penetration in mid-April 2024 to facilitate the seizure of operationally significant territory northwest of Avdiivka.
“The next several days in the Pokrovsk area of operations will likely be critical for Ukraine’s ability to prevent accelerated Russian gains north and northwest of Pokrovsk.” The attack follows months of brutal Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities in a bid to smash civilian morale.
But Ukraine has concentrated on defending in the east and launching deep strikes inside Russia to dismantle Moscow’s military infrastructure and supply chain. Kyiv’s drone teams have hit oil refineries, ammunition dumps and even multi-million pound long-range bomber warplanes.
