Russian offensive slows as Ukraine holds key positions on multiple fronts
The Russian offensive has slowed down on almost all fronts, although President Vladimir Putin still claims that the Russian Armed Forces are effectively "pushing back" the Ukrainian army.
In June, the Russian army continued the offensive that started in October 2023 in several directions simultaneously. Near Avdiivka, where the Russians made their main push and deployed the most soldiers, they advanced only 15-19 kilometres in those eight months.
Moreover, progress has been 6-10 kilometres since February. In May, Vladimir Putin's army opened a new front against the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Kharkiv and advanced 6-8 kilometres into Ukrainian territory in a few days. In other directions, progress was even slower and more modest.
On June 7, Vladimir Putin called the offensive methods of the Russian Armed Forces a tactic of "pushing out" the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the territories that Russia should "take under control."
The pace of such an offensive could be accelerated, but only by significantly increasing the Russian army's numerical advantage over the Ukrainian one. This will require mobilization and an increase in the level of losses.
The Russians aim to occupy the Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions. To reach the main logistical and industrial centers of the Donetsk region (Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, Lyman), the Russian Armed Forces have to advance over 30 kilometres.
The region's border is 40-50 kilometres in various directions (except for the far north). This means that at the current pace of the offensive (which is not guaranteed in the future), just capturing the Donetsk region could take a year or more.
Artillery of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk region
Russian troops are attempting to advance on the entire front - from Kharkiv to the village of Robotyne in the Zaporizhia region. Fighting is ongoing in the Donetsk region, where defence is conducted by, among others, the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo.
They know us and know that we are here; they are afraid and looking for another way - says Vasiliy from the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade.
