by Worthy News Europe Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – Russian troops have launched a sudden and rare penetration of Ukrainian defensive lines near the city of Dobropillia, pushing several miles into Donetsk province just days before President Vladimir Putin meets U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska.
The multi-pronged thrust, confirmed by Ukrainian and Russian military sources, is one of the deepest advances in months in a war largely defined by grinding attrition and fortified defenses. Analysts say the move may be aimed at strengthening Moscow’s bargaining position ahead of the summit, where Putin is expected to press for U.S. recognition of Russian control over occupied Ukrainian territories.
Ukraine’s military reported that small groups of Russian infantry bypassed frontline fortifications after weeks of probing attacks, exploiting a weak spot in the defensive network. While Kyiv says counterattacks are underway, concerns are mounting that the breach could widen, threatening cities still under Ukrainian control.
“This is critical,” warned former Ukrainian officer Tatarigami_UA, who now runs the Frontelligence Insight analysis group. “In both 2014 and 2015, Russia launched major offensives before negotiations to gain leverage. The situation is serious but not yet catastrophic.”
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted Russian claims of capturing villages northeast of Pokrovsk, calling it too early to declare an operational breakthrough but warning that Moscow “very likely” aims to turn the tactical advance into something more substantial in the coming days.
On the ground, Ukrainian troops describe mounting manpower shortages, rigid command structures, and delays in addressing frontline vulnerabilities—issues that Russian forces are now exploiting. “Ignoring problems doesn’t lead to their resolution,” wrote Taras Chmut, a military veteran and head of the Come Back Alive foundation, in a stark social media post.
European allies issued a statement Tuesday reaffirming that borders cannot be changed by force and rejecting any land-for-peace deal. While backing Trump’s push to end the war, they stressed that “meaningful negotiations” can only begin once fighting eases — a condition that Moscow appears determined to resist.
With Friday’s summit looming, military analysts say the next several days will be decisive in determining whether Russia’s advance remains a limited incursion—or becomes a turning point in the war.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Christians appealed for prayers Tuesday after Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, left at least one person dead and forced tens of thousands to flee as it swept through the central Philippines, officials and aid workers said.
The federal government shutdown reached its 35th day on Monday, tying the longest in U.S. history as Senate leaders from both parties hinted that a resolution may finally be within reach, though significant divisions remain over health care funding.
The United Nations Security Council has begun formal preparations for a resolution that would establish an international stabilization force in Gaza, implementing key elements of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “20-Point Plan” for Middle East peace and Gaza’s long-term reconstruction.
In a few short months, the National Counterterrorism Center says it’s helped prevent 6,525 known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) from entering the U.S.
Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, 71, announced Monday that he had formed a new governing coalition with right-wing and anti-Islam partners, triggering immediate controversy over his plan to appoint a foreign minister accused of racist and abusive behavior.
The aftermath of Spain’s worst flooding in recent memory became clearer Monday as Valencia’s regional president, Carlos Mazón, resigned after enduring months of political and public backlash over his handling of the 2024 floods that killed more than 200 people.
Tensions remained high in Serbia’s capital Monday after opponents and loyalists of President Aleksandar Vučić clashed in Belgrade during a rally marking one year since the Novi Sad train-station collapse that killed 16 people.