Donbas defense Ukraine

Russian forces lack capability to breach Donbas fortress belt this year — ISW

While Moscow demands the surrender of Ukraine's Donbas "fortress belt" — Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka, Slovyansk, and Kramatorsk — it is incapable of capturing Donetsk Oblast in 2026, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on April 14.

15 April, 05:08 PM

Zelenskyy warns Donbas troop pullback would split Ukraine and open door to Putin

A withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas would divide the nation and give dictator Vladimir Putin an opening for renewed aggression, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview on The Rest Is Politics podcast on April 10.

10 April, 03:34 PM

Ukrainian defender who held position for 113 days in encirclement near Myrnohrad dies in Lviv

53-year-old defender Viktor Khariv has died in Lviv. He had been receiving treatment after holding a defensive position for 113 days in encirclement near Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast, the International Institute of Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations (MIOK), where the defender’s wife Zoriana Khariv works, as well as Iryna and Yaryna Klyuchkovska, reported on March 31.

1 April, 01:10 PM

Russian forces face years of grueling battles to seize Donbas

Ukraine's successful southern counterattacks are crippling Russia's new spring offensive, making it highly unlikely Moscow will conquer Donetsk Oblast's fortress cities in 2026, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on March 26.

27 March, 10:50 AM

Zelenskyy says Ukraine will not abandon Donbas despite Russian demands

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine will not abandon Donbas or the 200,000 Ukrainians living there, warning that any withdrawal would open the way for Russia to advance deeper into the country and encourage further Kremlin demands.

3 March, 04:20 PM

Donbas defense Ukraine