Russia has captured a second town in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region within a week, as part of a prolonged offensive that continues unabated. Ukraine’s General Staff reported over 150 attacks daily along the frontlines.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced that its forces had taken control of Hrodivka, a town on the strategic route to Pokrovsk, which Ukrainian commanders have identified as a significant target.
Just five days earlier, Russian troops captured Vuhledar, located on the Donetsk-Zaporizhia border. The fall of Hrodivka marks another advance in Russia’s ongoing offensive in the region.
Meanwhile, Russia’s air campaign has intensified. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia had dropped 800 glide bombs and launched nearly 400 drones and 20 missiles into Ukraine over the past week.
“This daily aerial terror can be stopped, but it requires unity among our partners and long-range [weapons],” Zelenskyy said, urging allies to provide Ukraine with Western-supplied missiles to target Russian airfields from which these glide bombs are launched, often from Tupolev-95 bombers.
Russia has warned of severe consequences if Ukraine is allowed to strike deep into Russian territory. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated this warning on Tuesday, stating, “As soon as this decision is made, if it is made, we will know about it, and the plan that [President] Vladimir Putin mentioned will be put into action.”
