Russia Advancing
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Ukraine surged some of its most combat-hardened forces to the eastern Donetsk region to blunt a Russian advance some fear could lead to a large-scale collapse on that part of the front. The battlefield moves come days ahead of a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders are expected to discuss a plan to end the war that could include freezing the front lines where they are.
“The situation remains complex and dynamic,” said the First Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine, which was recently dispatched to reinforce the area. “The enemy is attempting to advance in this direction at the cost of significant losses in manpower and equipment. Units within the corps have planned and carried out actions to block enemy forces in the area.”
Given how much of this advance is dependent upon dismounted infantry, there is hope that the Ukrainians can move fast enough to close the breach and establish new defensive lines. However, Ukrainian forces are thin in a lot of places and reinforcing one spot could open up other vulnerabilities.
Not to put too fine of a point on it, but I want folks to be cognizant of this situation when we start talking in earnest about the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska. There are limits to what can be won on the battlefield and limits to what can be held at the negotiating table.