Despite Russian dictator Vladimir Putin inviting Kyiv to direct “peace negotiations” in Istanbul on May 15, invading troops in eastern Ukraine are busy massing for another push to seize the entirety of Donetsk Oblast—a key objective that has remained out Kremlin’s reach since 2022.
“Ukrainian intelligence officials told the Financial Times that Russia appears to be gearing up for a larger offensive, moving forces to key hotspots on the battlefield, rather than signaling its readiness for peace talks,” the FT report said.
The Ukrainian OSINT (open-source intelligence) project DeepState said Russian troops captured more territory this week in eastern Donetsk Oblast, particularly around the towns of Pokrovsk and Toretsk. DeepState noted that Russian forces advanced within Toretskitself as well as near the villages of Romanivka and Novooleksandrivka, on the outskirts of Pokrovsk.
The Ukrainian General Staff said 133 engagements occurred along the front on May 12, with more than one-third taking place in the Pokrovsk area.
On April 30, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russia had significantly intensified combat operations. He noted that Russian efforts were concentrated on the Pokrovsk direction as they attempt to reach the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
On May 2, DeepState analysts reported that the Russian army captured the village of Tarasivka in the Pokrovsk sector. Syrskyi said on May 6 that Ukrainian Defense Forces had managed to stabilize the situation in the Pokrovsk area and, in some sectors, regain the tactical initiative.