Eastern Ukraine: Strategic Cities Face Increased Russian Military Pressure

Eastern Ukraine: Strategic Cities Face Increased Russian Military Pressure

Overview of the Conflict in Eastern Ukraine

Kramatorsk, one of the cities currently under Ukrainian control in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine, is experiencing intensified military activity. Local officials in Kramatorsk have reported numerous Russian attacks over the past month. These attacks have involved strike drones, ballistic missiles, rockets, and aerial bombs, targeting residential areas, commercial establishments, and a nearby power plant, resulting in power outages.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has affirmed the objective of seizing the entirety of eastern Ukraine's Donbas, which encompasses the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Russia has occupied over 80% of the Donbas since 2014. The stated goal is to secure the remaining territory either through military means or a negotiated settlement to end the ongoing conflict, which has spanned nearly four years. Ukraine has consistently declined to agree to any territorial concessions to Russia. A proposed peace plan from the Trump administration has reportedly encountered resistance from Ukrainian and European parties concerning territorial and security guarantee provisions.

Battlefield Developments

The Russian military has stated that its forces possess battlefield momentum. Russia has also developed specialized drone warfare units.

Conflicting reports have emerged regarding control of Pokrovsk, a city in Donetsk identified as a key supply route for Ukrainian troops. Last week, Russia claimed its forces had captured Pokrovsk. However, Ukraine's military denies this claim, with the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces stating on December 1 that Russian troops remained engaged in urban warfare within the city.

The Russian military has been engaged in operations to infiltrate Pokrovsk for approximately 18 months. Ukrainian soldiers defending Pokrovsk have reported being numerically disadvantaged and observing high levels of drone activity in the area.

Military sources indicate Russia is deploying specialized drone units, such as "Rubicon," in the Pokrovsk vicinity. Michael Kofman, a senior fellow specializing in defense analysis at the Carnegie Endowment, notes that Russia has increased its deployment of drone teams and enhanced drone system production. Kofman assessed that Ukraine's advantage in drone employment has diminished significantly over the past year.

Ukrainian units utilizing unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) have reported experiencing losses due to Russian aerial drone interception. Ukraine's political leadership reportedly considers the retention of Pokrovsk important for potential leverage in future peace negotiations.

Civilian Impact and Displacements

Residents in cities like Kramatorsk are experiencing heightened pressure from the ongoing conflict. Early last month, Ukrainian Railways suspended service to Kramatorsk and Slovyansk, another strategic city in Donetsk.

Civilians in affected areas continue to face displacement. For example, one 70-year-old resident, Olha Kasinkovka, has been displaced twice due to the conflict. Her hometown of Makiivka was taken by Russia-backed separatists in 2014. She subsequently relocated to Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, which has recently experienced intense shelling, leading to widespread destruction. She is currently sheltering in Kramatorsk. Some residents have expressed concerns regarding the persistence of attacks and skepticism about the reliability of potential peace agreements.