Russian forces have achieved their fastest territorial gains in Ukraine since the early months of the war, advancing toward the strategically important town of Kurakhove and exploiting weaknesses in Ukrainian defenses, analysts reported Monday.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) highlighted significant progress in Donetsk, with confirmed advances near Vuhledar and Velyka Novosilka. Analysts noted that Russian troops are moving at a pace unseen in 2023, capturing an estimated 235 square kilometers (91 square miles) in just the past week a record for 2024, according to independent Russian news outlet Agentstvo.
Agentstvo, citing data from Deep State, a Ukrainian military-linked group, confirmed the advances and stated that Russia has gained more territory since November began than in all of October, previously the most active month of this year. Deep State reported on Telegram that Russian forces are nearing Kurakhove, a town critical for reaching the logistical hub of Pokrovsk in Donetsk.
The ISW attributed these gains to Russian forces tactically exploiting vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s defense lines. However, Ukraine’s outnumbered troops are struggling with recruitment challenges and shortages in equipment, even as President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to urge Western allies for more military aid.
Zelensky has repeatedly warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains focused on capturing the entire Donbas region, encompassing Donetsk and Luhansk, while attempting to dislodge Ukrainian forces from territories they have held in the Kursk region since August.
This surge in Russian advances underscores the intensifying struggle in southeastern Ukraine, with Kyiv facing mounting pressure to bolster its defenses amid the ongoing conflict.
