The Russians are pushing towards Sloviansk and Kramatorsk – the main cities of the so-called “fortress belt”.
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Military analysts assess that currently Russian units are less than 15 kilometers away from both cities. As they approach, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk are fiercely attacked by drones and guided aerial bombs.
CNN noted that the Ukrainian armed forces are increasingly finding themselves in defensive positions in various sectors of the eastern front. Compared to spring, there is a change: at that time, Ukrainian forces recaptured more territory than they lost.
The situation has shifted in Moscow’s favor, although a quick breakthrough is not to be expected, CNN assessed Jenny Olmsted, a Russian analyst at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
