PUBLISHED on August 14, 2025, 10:53 AM EDT – Key Points and Summary: Just days before the Trump-Putin summit, Russian forces have ramped up their offensive in eastern Ukraine, pushing toward the vital Dobropillia–Kramatorsk highway in Donetsk.
-According to open-source intelligence, Russian troops have captured several nearby settlements in their deepest penetration of Ukrainian lines in a year.
-While Ukraine’s elite 1st Azov Corps has been redeployed to halt the advance, analysts suggest the timing is a deliberate Kremlin strategy to seize a stronger negotiating position ahead of the high-stakes talks in Alaska, where a “land swap” deal is expected to be discussed.
Russia Close to Taking Vital Donetsk Highway
Russian troops have ramped up their eastern Ukraine assault, pushing on towards the Dobropillia–Kramatorsk highway in Donetsk.
The route, until recently a vital artery for both civilians and the military, now sits on the edge of the conflict’s shifting front line.
Key ‘Artery’ Under Threat
Open-source analysts from Ukraine’s DeepState project told EuroNews that Moscow’s forces have likely taken several nearby settlements.
This move is designed to shore up their position ahead of further planned pushes westward. The project’s mapping now shows contested territory touching the strategic highway.
Dobropillia sits some 94 kilometres northwest of the city of Donetsk, which remains occupied by Russia.
It is also close to Pokrovsk, which has faced near-constant Russian attacks in recent months, with its units obviously attempting to wedge themselves between it and Kostiantynivka. Such efforts, as the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has documented, have accelerated in recent weeks.
‘Breakthrough’ Not Foregone Conclusion
The ISW cautions against declaring an “operational-level breakthrough” just yet however.
Although the think tank does warn that Moscow appears intent on turning these tactical gains into something far more decisive.
ISW notes that Russia used a similar breach in April 2024 to seize strategically important land northwest of Avdiivka.
Ukraine could now face a repeat scenario.
Russian Pushes On, But At A Cost
Ukraine’s elite 1st Azov Corps has redeployed to the Pokrovsk sector to counter the advancing forces. The unit described the situation as “complex and dynamic,” with Russian troops advancing but sustaining losses in both personnel and equipment.
This offensive’s timeline may not be coincidental. ISW suggests the Kremlin could be aiming to project momentum ahead of Friday’s summit in Alaska, where US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet face-to-face.
The talks will mark Putin’s first visit to the U.S. in over a decade, and he will surely be hoping for fresh gains on the battlefield to strengthen his profile.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed any suggestion that Moscow is ready to negotiate in good faith. Citing intelligence and military assessments, he said Russia is redeploying forces in a way that signals preparations for new large-scale attacks.
“Putin is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire,” Zelenskyy publicly warned.
“He wants to frame a meeting with America as a personal victory and continue exactly as before.”
But if Russia does break through towards Dobropillia, Kyiv’s diplomatic and military arsenal will be stretched yet further.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education. You can follow her on X: @llggeorgia.
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