Intense Fighting Rages in Eastern Ukraine
Ukrainian and Russian forces have issued conflicting reports about the ongoing battle for control of key towns in eastern Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirming Ukrainian troops are holding their positions around the strategically important city of Pokrovsk and nearby Dobropillia. The situation remains highly volatile as Russian forces continue their push to capture the entire Donetsk region.
Conflicting Reports from Myrnohrad Frontline
The Ukrainian military announced on Monday that it had successfully delivered supplies to embattled Myrnohrad and rotated out troops, including wounded soldiers. Ukrainian units are confidently holding their positions and destroying the occupiers on the approaches to the town, according to an official statement. While acknowledging that logistics to the town remain complicated, military officials confirmed they are being maintained.
Contradicting these claims, Russia's defence ministry stated through Telegram that its forces were advancing on Myrnohrad and had made gains in two of the town's districts. The battlefield reports from both sides could not be independently verified, creating uncertainty about the actual situation on the ground.
Massive Russian Force Concentrated on Pokrovsk
Ukraine's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, revealed that Russia has concentrated approximately 150,000 troops in its drive to capture Pokrovsk, which has been dubbed the gateway to Donetsk. Russian forces have been targeting this key city for over a year as part of their campaign to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.
Syrskyi told the New York Post that mechanised groups and marine brigades are participating in Russia's push, with ongoing battles and fast manoeuvres being carried out by enemy forces constantly. The intensity of fighting suggests Moscow is committing significant resources to break through Ukrainian defences in this sector.
Additional Frontline Developments
Russian troops have also been advancing on villages in the Zaporizhzhia region further south, according to frontline reports. The Russian defence ministry claimed capture of two villages north-east of Hulyaipole among three positions taken along the 1,000km front line over the past 24 hours.
Ukraine's DeepState military blog noted a significant increase in grey zones with uncertain control in Zaporizhzhia region, indicating the fluid nature of the battlefield. Meanwhile, Ukrainian special forces reported hitting a pumping station at the Hvardiyska oil depot in occupied Crimea, describing it as an important element of the fuel logistics system for Russian occupying authorities.
International Support and Domestic Challenges
Germany has committed to increasing financial aid to Ukraine to €11.5 billion in the 2026 budget, up from €8.5 billion previously planned. As Europe's largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine, Germany has provided approximately €40 billion since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
Domestically, Ukraine's anti-corruption bureau announced a large-scale investigation into the country's energy sector, alleging kickbacks in transactions involving state nuclear power operator Energoatom. Ukrainian media identified one of the figures involved as Timur Mindich, a businessman and associate of President Zelenskyy, who reportedly fled abroad hours before investigators arrived at his Kyiv apartment.
International Ramifications
Belgium has enlisted foreign armed forces to help track down drones making incursions around its airports, military bases and a nuclear plant. Officials stated the incidents bear the hallmarks of Russian interference, though no direct connection has been established. A Belgian official commented, We're not saying it's Russia - we're saying it looks like Russia.
Meanwhile, Russian company Lukoil declared force majeure at its West Qurna-2 oil field in Iraq, marking the biggest fallout yet from US sanctions imposed on Russian oil majors last month. Bulgaria was also poised to seize Lukoil's Burgas refinery as the company's international operations face increasing pressure from sanctions designed to undermine Russia's war efforts.
The conflict continues to evolve on multiple fronts as Ukraine enters day 1,357 of the full-scale invasion, with both sides claiming tactical successes while the human and economic costs continue to mount across the region.
