00:00Russian troops are gradually approaching key cities in the Donetsk region and
00:05Some of the most intense fighting of the year could begin in this area during
00:10Autumn. This will be a trial by fire for the new command of the Armed Forces.
00:16from Ukraine, according to Reuters. Russian forces are slowly advancing toward
00:22Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, the main cities of the so-called Belt of Fortresses. According to
00:29According to military analysts, Russian units are already less than 15 kilometers away from
00:34Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. Both cities are suffering increasingly intense drone attacks and
00:40Guided bombs. The situation is expected to worsen considerably this fall. Michael
00:47Kaufman, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, believes that September
00:53October could be the months with the fiercest fighting of the year. He also believes that Russia
00:59could try to take advantage of the deteriorating weather conditions to launch
01:04New mechanized attacks. As weather conditions worsen, drones become more prevalent.
01:10less effective. And that's precisely where the Russians are trying to regain mobility on the field.
01:16"of battle," Kaufman explained. "At the same time, Ukraine has already demonstrated its ability to hold back."
01:23This type of offensive. In particular, the Russian offensive near Dobropilia during the summer failed to achieve
01:30The expected results. The defense of the Donetsk region will be one of the first major tests.
01:37for the new Ukrainian military leadership, headed by General Mihailo Drapati. In July, Drapati
01:44He replaced Alexander Sirsky as commander-in-chief and began reforming the command system of the
01:51troops. Analysts believe Drapati is trying to transfer more authority directly to
01:58operational-level commanders. Russian troops continue to advance slowly toward Slovyansk and
02:04Kramatorsk, cities which, together with Druskivka and Kostyantinivka, make up the so-called Belt of
02:11Ukrainian defense strongholds, according to CNN. Kramatorsk, a major logistics hub for
02:18Ukrainian forces have long been increasingly exposed to attacks
02:23Russians. According to Irina Rivakova, spokeswoman for the 93rd Mechanized Brigade, the attacks occur dozens of times a day.
02:31The attacks occur dozens of times a day. Dozens of vehicles, municipal buildings,
02:39Homes, office buildings, and garages have been damaged. They simply are.
02:45"Setting everything on fire," she declared. According to her, the city streets are almost deserted in the morning and
02:53at night. During the day, people also try to move around with the utmost caution.
02:59due to the constant threat of drone attacks. They could attack at any time.
03:05Rivakova noted. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW),
03:13They point out that a rapid advance by Russia remains unlikely. However,
03:18The situation is gradually tilting in Moscow's favor. Russian troops are advancing.
03:24They carry out infiltration operations and are slowly advancing towards Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, thus
03:30as in the Kofiantinivka area. According to the Institute for the Study of War,
03:36Russian forces advanced or penetrated approximately 124 square kilometers of
03:41Ukrainian territory in August. This represents about a quarter of the area that Russia
03:47It won in the same month last year. Despite the slow pace, Moscow is generating
03:54gradually a threat to Ukraine's Belt of Fortresses, a chain of cities
03:59fortified industrial sites that form the backbone of the Donbass defense.
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