Ukrainian Army’s Position in Donetsk Region Deteriorates as Fighting Reaches Kramatorsk and Sloviansk

For a long time, these cities remained a relatively safe rear area for the Ukrainian army. Now, however, they are regularly hit by glide bombs and drones and are no longer the “oasis” for Ukrainian forces that they had been after 2022.

Ukrainian soldiers say the number of glide-bomb strikes has risen sharply in recent months.

“These are scarier little things than drones,” said a serviceman with the call sign “Komers.”

Another Ukrainian soldier, Illia Kostin, says Russian troops are gradually approaching the city despite heavy losses.

“On one big screen there are 150 windows, and in each of those videos you see one or two enemy infantrymen advancing. This happens constantly, without stopping, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he said.

Bloomberg notes that Kramatorsk remains a key stronghold of Ukrainian defense in the part of Donetsk region controlled by Kyiv. Although experts consider the capture of the city itself unlikely in the foreseeable future, the gradual advance of Russian forces has allowed them to move close enough to attack Kramatorsk regularly with glide bombs.

According to Kostin, the city is already becoming unfit for normal life. “There is no place for civilian life there,” he said.

Because of the intensified strikes, some civilians have left Kramatorsk, and some medical units have been relocated farther west.

Military analyst Michael Kofman notes that amid Ukrainian strikes on Russian rear areas, media attention has shifted to other fronts, although “the fight for Donetsk region has continued all this time.”