Ukraine’s army is finding some rare success along the eastern front, reclaiming key positions and inflicting “unsustainable losses” on Russian forces, according to battlefield reports.
While the frontline axis has not changed significantly, Ukrainian forces have advanced against Russian troops close to the two major eastern cities of Pokrovsk and Toretsk, according to new reports.
“The Ukrainian Armed Forces are actively advancing in Toretsk, reclaiming key positions,” said one war blogger closely observing the front lines. “There are reports of complete encirclement of Russian occupiers in several areas.”
Toretsk provides a vital link for Ukraine to logistics bases in Kostiantynivka, north-west of the city. The attacks are reportedly being conducted with US-donated armoured vehicles.
Counter-attacks are also being conducted near the city of Pokrovsk – a key city for Ukrainian defences. Russia has been moving towards the city for the past year, and has advanced 40km (25 miles) west since February 2024.
Last week Ukraine announced a successful counter-attack to retake the settlement of Kotlyne, near Pokrovsk, and regained their position in Kotlynne, west of Pokrovsk. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said: “The year-long Russian effort to seize Pokrovsk has so far failed.”
Members of the ‘Lyut’ joint assault brigade await orders on the Toretsk front line in the Donbas region – Maria Senovilla/Shutterstock
Meanwhile Russian military bloggers – accounts which are often cited as sources of information in lieu of official commentary from the Kremlin – reported that the Kremlin’s troops had lost ground in Uspenivka in Donetsk Oblast.
The ISW also said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces are now inflicting “unsustainable losses” on Russian forces and holding them to “marginal gains”.
DeepState, a Ukrainian war-tracking blog, also said that Russian troops occupied 192 sq km of Ukrainian territory in February, marking a decline compared to previous months.
“Despite losing momentum, with the pace of advance now comparable to last July, the enemy continues to suffer heavy manpower losses,” DeepState said. “The enemy’s activity has decreased, although it has not ceased entirely.”
Russian military bloggers report that the Kremlin’s troops have lost ground in Uspenivka in Donetsk Oblast – Anadolu
Praise for the counter-attacks is being lauded onto Gen Myhailo Drapaty, Ukraine’s ground forces chief who also recently took command of fighting in the eastern Donbas region.
The 42-year-old commander is considered part of a “new generation” of younger Ukrainian general officers that had fought against Russian forces since 2014.
Olena Mokrenchuk, the press officer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said previously that Gen Drapatyi’s strategies are “always unexpected and unconventional, but meticulously calculated”.
“He’s very effective. I believe that under his command, we’ll be able to push the Russians back,” she told Ukrainian broadcaster, Espreso TV.
Toretsk provides a vital link for Ukraine to logistics bases in Kostiantynivka north-west of the city – Ukraine’s 93rd Mechanized Brigade/Shutterstock
In December 2024, Gen Drapatyi announced an ambitious transformation plan aimed at improving Ukraine’s position on the battlefield, including reforming military training and providing Ukrainian soldiers with a technological edge over their enemy.
“Today, we’re building an army of the future – an army that will defeat the enemy and overcome every obstacle on the way of transformation,” Gen Drapatyi said.
However, Moscow is still gaining ground. On Saturday it said it had seized two more villages in eastern Ukraine, Skudne and Burlatske, in the south of the eastern Donetsk region.
DeepState also reported that Russia had advanced near Burlatske, Andriivka, Pryvilne, Sverdlikove and Mykolaivo-Daryne in the past few days. On Sunday Russia conducted strikes on gas processing facilities used by the Ukrainian defence force.
The general staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in its operational update on Friday that the army was involved in “60 combat engagements”.
Moscow seized two more villages in eastern Ukraine, Skudne and Burlatske, in the south of the eastern Donetsk region – Ukraine’s 93rd Mechanized Brigade/Shutterstock
The intense fighting comes as senior US officials have warned that president Donald Trump may cut all aid to Ukraine, including any final aid shipments that Joe Biden, the former US president, approved.
Writing about Ukraine’s recent gains and its army inflicting “unsustainable losses” on Russia, the ISW said: “This situation, combined with the severe challenges Russia will face in 2025, offers the United States great leverage in peace negotiations.”
Ukrainian forces have leveraged US-supplied military systems – including Patriot air defense systems, HIMARS and ATACMS long-range strike systems – to defend against nightly Russian drone and missile strikes and improve its strike capabilities.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces are also looking to complicate Russian logistics, command and control and disrupt Russia’s defense industrial base.
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