Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine crisis map. Envato Market

by Worthy News Europe Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – Russian troops have launched a sudden and rare penetration of Ukrainian defensive lines near the city of Dobropillia, pushing several miles into Donetsk province just days before President Vladimir Putin meets U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska.

The multi-pronged thrust, confirmed by Ukrainian and Russian military sources, is one of the deepest advances in months in a war largely defined by grinding attrition and fortified defenses. Analysts say the move may be aimed at strengthening Moscow’s bargaining position ahead of the summit, where Putin is expected to press for U.S. recognition of Russian control over occupied Ukrainian territories.

Ukraine’s military reported that small groups of Russian infantry bypassed frontline fortifications after weeks of probing attacks, exploiting a weak spot in the defensive network. While Kyiv says counterattacks are underway, concerns are mounting that the breach could widen, threatening cities still under Ukrainian control.

“This is critical,” warned former Ukrainian officer Tatarigami_UA, who now runs the Frontelligence Insight analysis group. “In both 2014 and 2015, Russia launched major offensives before negotiations to gain leverage. The situation is serious but not yet catastrophic.”

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted Russian claims of capturing villages northeast of Pokrovsk, calling it too early to declare an operational breakthrough but warning that Moscow “very likely” aims to turn the tactical advance into something more substantial in the coming days.

On the ground, Ukrainian troops describe mounting manpower shortages, rigid command structures, and delays in addressing frontline vulnerabilities—issues that Russian forces are now exploiting. “Ignoring problems doesn’t lead to their resolution,” wrote Taras Chmut, a military veteran and head of the Come Back Alive foundation, in a stark social media post.

European allies issued a statement Tuesday reaffirming that borders cannot be changed by force and rejecting any land-for-peace deal. While backing Trump’s push to end the war, they stressed that “meaningful negotiations” can only begin once fighting eases — a condition that Moscow appears determined to resist.

With Friday’s summit looming, military analysts say the next several days will be decisive in determining whether Russia’s advance remains a limited incursion—or becomes a turning point in the war.

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