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| Russian drive on Donetsk region puts Kyiv's new commanders to the test |
| 2026-09-08 |
| KYIV, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Ukraine is bracing for months of fierce fighting over key strongholds in the eastern Donetsk region that are at the heart of Russia's war aims, in the first major test for ​Kyiv's incoming top general Mykhailo Drapatyi and his new commanders. Moscow's larger forces have been inching towards the so-called "fortress belt" cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, the capture of which would bring Russia ‌closer to its goal of seizing the entire industrialised Donetsk region. The human toll has already been high, and, despite renewed diplomatic contacts, military analysts expect Russia to intensify its offensive as winter approaches. A visit to Kyiv at the weekend by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner revived dormant peace talks, but there has been no sign of a breakthrough. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he expected the war to continue through the winter. The looming battle for Donetsk is shaping up to be one of the ​most consequential phases of the war this year. For Russian President Vladimir Putin, capturing the remainder of the region would mark a major political and military victory. For Ukraine, holding it is critical to ​protecting the backbone of its eastern defences and validating a command shake-up aimed largely at halting Russia's slow but persistent advance. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |