Donbas

Russia targets Ukrainian logistical lines to isolate Donbas 'fortress belt' ahead of offensive

Russian forces are replicating aspects of their Summer-Fall 2025 battlefield air interdiction (BAI) campaign that set conditions for late 2025 advances near Pokrovsk and Hulyaipole to prepare for offensive operations against the Fortress Belt in Donbas, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on August 3.

4 August, 09:57 AM

Migrants in Donbas coerced into Russian military contracts – Atesh

Members of Russia's Akhmat units have set up a system to recruit foreign workers in temporarily occupied parts of the Donbas in order to replenish Russian frontline losses, the pro-Ukrainian partisan resistance movement Atesh reported on Telegram on July 27.

27 July, 12:43 PM

Putin drops territorial concessions, demands all of Donetsk Oblast

The Kremlin is no longer considering returning any occupied Ukrainian territory as part of a potential peace agreement and is insisting on fully capturing Donetsk Oblast, Bloomberg reported on July 22, citing people familiar with the matter.

22 July, 01:20 PM

Russia cut Donbas population by nearly 30%, Ukrainian intelligence says

The population of Ukraine's Donbas region has fallen by nearly a third due to actions by Russian invasion forces, dropping from about 7.37 million people in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in 2001 to roughly 3.75 million by early 2024, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (HUR) reported on July 20.

21 July, 11:14 AM

Kremlin resettling Russians in occupied Donbas, HUR says

The population of Russia-occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts has fallen by nearly one-third because of Russian occupation and related policies, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) said in a statement on July 20.

21 July, 01:42 AM

Russian forces kill Ukrainian volunteer in Dobropillia; family identifies him from drone footage

Russian forces killed Ukrainian volunteer Volodymyr Diukarev, who had been reported missing since July 3, with a drone strike in Dobropillia, Donetsk Oblast, volunteer Denys “Hollander” Khrystov reported on Telegram.

16 July, 02:03 PM

Putin unlikely to hold meaningful peace talks with Ukraine before February 2027

Vladimir Putin is unlikely to engage in meaningful peace talks with Ukraine before at least February 2027, the Financial Times reported, citing sources familiar with behind-the-scenes negotiations on July 5.

6 July, 12:38 PM

Ukrainian forces hit three bridges in occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts – General Staff

Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck a road bridge near Novoazovsk in Donetsk Oblast and two railway bridges in Luhansk Oblast on June 28 and overnight into June 29, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said.

29 June, 07:15 PM

Zelenskyy tells Abramovich Ukraine will never abandon Donbas

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed his conversation with Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in which stated he will not abandon Donbas, the Guardian reported on June 9.

9 June, 09:45 AM

Birds in Donetsk Oblast building nests with drone fiber-optic cable

Birds in Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast are adapting to life in a war zone by using remnants of drone fiber-optic cable, along with grass, to build their nests, Oleh Malchenko, a doctor of historical sciences, senior researcher at the Institute of Archival Studies and Source Studies of Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, and now a serviceman said on June 6.

6 June, 08:10 PM

Ukrainian unit targets Russian logistics in occupied Horlivka

Drone operators from Ukraine's 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade said they had established fire control over the Russian-occupied city of Horlivka in Donetsk Oblast, releasing video footage of the operation on June 4.

4 June, 06:50 PM

Video shows suspected phosphorus attack on Kostiantynivka

Russian forces struck Kostiantynivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast with banned phosphorus munitions, the Khyzhak Brigade of Ukraine’s patrol police department reported on June 3, adding that its aerial reconnaissance operators recorded the war crime on video.

3 June, 06:41 PM

Bus driver and riders describe daily survival in Slovyansk under Russian attacks

In the frontline city of Slovyansk, where Russian forces regularly attack with aerial bombs and drones, residents say daily life is becoming harder as public transportation to some neighborhoods has been cut because of the danger. Radio Liberty’s Current Time spoke with minibus driver Serhii, who described conditions in the city near the front as of the end of May.

28 May, 04:56 PM

Russia could need 30 years to seize Donbas as Putin’s victory pitch falters

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin tried to convince U.S. President Donald Trump that Russian forces were heading toward an “inevitable victory” in Ukraine, arguing that Kyiv should cede all of Donbas to Russia, NYT reported on May 10.

11 May, 12:33 PM

Russian forces advance towards three settlements in Donetsk Oblast – DeepState

Russian forces advanced towards three settlements in Donetsk Oblast, DeepState monitoring group reported on May 10.

11 May, 09:45 AM

Kremlin issues new threats to Ukraine, demanding 'painful decisions' on territory

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov issued a fresh ultimatum to Ukraine, claiming Kyiv must yield to Moscow's demands or face "even more painful decisions" as the war continues, Russian state propaganda service Vesti reported on April 26.

26 April, 09:55 PM

Russian troops advance in Rodynske, Donetsk Oblast

Russian forces advanced in the town of Rodynske in Donetsk Oblast, the DeepState monitoring project reported on April 24.

25 April, 11:30 AM

Ukraine offered to rename Donbas sliver to ‘Donnyland’ — report

Ukrainian negotiators suggested naming the bit of Donbas that Russia is trying to conquer after U.S. President Donald Trump, calling it “Donnyland,” The New York Times reported on April 21.

21 April, 10:31 PM

Russian forces massing south of Myrnohrad in Donbas

Russia is concentrating forces south of Myrnohrad, Donetsk Oblast, quartering infantry in residential buildings for cover, Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Reaction Corps said on April 17.

18 April, 12:24 AM

Kremlin commits reserves to capture Donbas by September — HUR

Russia’s missile strikes on Ukraine are intensifying as part of a broader Kremlin plan to destroy critical infrastructure ahead of a renewed spring–summer offensive, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) said.

17 April, 01:37 AM

Donbas

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