Drapaty ordered the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strengthen defenses in the Donetsk region, according to Reuters
Russian troops have advanced to within less than 15 km of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk—key cities in Ukraine’s “belt of fortresses” in the Donetsk region. With a difficult autumn ahead, the Ukrainian command is strengthening the region’s defenses and bringing in experienced commanders to organize them.
According to the publication, Russian troops are less than 15 km from Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
Both cities are increasingly becoming targets of Russian attacks. Strike drones and guided aerial bombs are being actively used against them.
Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, and Kostiantynivka form the so-called “belt of fortresses”—Ukraine’s key defensive line in the Donetsk region.
The defense of Donetsk Oblast became one of the first serious tests for the new Ukrainian Armed Forces command led by General Mykhailo Drapatiy.
After his appointment in July, he began restructuring the troop command system and expanding the authority of operational-level commanders.
The command has deployed some of Ukraine’s most experienced officers to key sectors in the Donetsk region.
In particular, Andriy Biletsky, commander of the Third Army Corps, and Denys Prokopenko, commander of the First Corps of the National Guard “Azov,” are responsible for the region’s defense.
According to reports, Biletsky’s units have stabilized the situation near Sloviansk, while forces under Prokopenko’s command have halted a large-scale Russian offensive in the Dobropillia area.
They were also joined by Emil Ishkulov, the former commander of the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade. He took command of the 11th Army Corps, which is responsible for the Sloviansk and Kramatorsk sectors.
Michael Kofman, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, predicts that September and October could be the period of the most intense fighting in 2026.
According to him, as weather conditions deteriorate, Russian troops may attempt to resume larger-scale mechanized attacks.
“As weather conditions deteriorate, drones become less effective. And that is precisely where the Russians are trying to regain mobility on the battlefield,” Kofman explained.
At the same time, the Ukrainian military has already demonstrated its ability to contain Russian offensive operations, particularly during the failed attempt to break through near Dobropillia.
Military analyst Emil Kastehelmi notes that Russia has yet to find an effective way to overcome Ukrainian defenses, which rely heavily on the widespread use of drone technology.
“This is a situation that could still unfold in various ways, and many scenarios are still being considered. ... Overall, it is difficult to imagine how the Russians will be able to achieve success beyond the tactical level,” he said.
Despite their numerical superiority, Russian troops are advancing slowly. At the same time, a shortage of personnel remains one of the main challenges for Ukraine.
It is up to General Drapaty and the new Minister of Defense, Yevhen Khmara, to address the issue of troop strength, as well as problems with the mobilization system.
Thus, the coming months could be a major test for Ukraine’s defense in the Donetsk region, where Russian troops are attempting to advance toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces are preparing to contain a possible intensified offensive.
This is according to Reuters.
Bilozerke, in the Dobropillia sector, is under constant Russian shelling. Hundreds of civilians remain in the city itself and the surrounding villages.
In the Sumy region, Russian troops carried out a series of strikes on civilian targets. An 83-year-old woman was killed in the attacks, and at least 16 other people were wounded or injured.
As a reminder, fires broke out at industrial facilities in the Kyiv region following an attack by Russia.
Russia also launched a massive attack on Kyiv, killing and injuring civilians.
Later, rescue workers showed the aftermath of the strikes on Kyiv.
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