Ukrainian troops stationed in Donbass are suffering heavy losses against the backdrop of advancing Russian forces, The Economist writes, citing servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Thus, Private Yuri of the 59th Brigade, who is participating in the battles near Ukrainsk in the DPR, told the publication about “significant losses” of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to him, the Ukrainian command sent reinforcements to help his formation, but soon suffered heavy losses due to the inexperience of military personnel.
“In three days, 100 became zero. Some fled, others died.” – said.
Servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also informed the publication about the risk of being surrounded near Kurakhovo. Ukrainian forces are having difficulties with supplies in the area, the magazine writes. The distance from Kurakhovo to Ukrainsk is about 12 km.
“They know we won’t fight back because we don’t have the people to do it. So they advance slowly where they can.” – said Officer Andrei from the 79th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to his colleague Alexander, the unit lost more troops in 2024 than in the previous 18 months.
Kurakhovo belongs to the Pokrovsk direction, the plight of which has been repeatedly declared by the Ukrainian authorities. The railway lines from Konstantinovka and Kurakhovo to Pavlograd and the Dnieper connect to Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk).
In recent weeks, the Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly reported on the occupation of settlements in the direction of Pokrovsk. The Financial Times wrote that Vladimir Zelensky Military officials, lawmakers and experts have criticised the rapid advance of the Russian army in Donbass amid the ongoing attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region. Some Ukrainian units were relocated from near Pokrovsk for this operation.
president of russia Vladimir Putin He said that Ukraine, by attacking the Kursk region, set itself several goals, including stopping the Russian offensive in the Donbass. However, according to him, the pace of the operation there did not decrease, but rather increased by 1.5 times.
