Currently, the enemy is actively advancing in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, particularly in Kurakhove, which has become a key point for controlling the southern Donbas.
This was stated by military expert Pavel Lakiychuk during a broadcast on "Current Time." He adds that in the Kupiansk direction and some other areas, the Russians are attempting to utilize all available opportunities as the cold weather approaches and the roads become muddy.
"Kurakhove is the key to the situation in the Donetsk region, to the south of the enemy's offensive from Pokrovsk. By breaching the defenses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) at the Kurakhove reservoir, the Russians are trying to split it into two parts in this section: from Kurakhove to Ugledar – the southern section, and between the Pokrovsk bulge and the Kurakhove reservoir – the northern section," the expert notes.
Lakiychuk explains that this would allow the occupiers to cut off the AFU's logistical routes and complicate the maneuverability of Ukrainian forces. However, the Ukrainian army is currently holding important heights in this area, which significantly slows the enemy's advance. These heights provide a strategic advantage and hinder the Russian army's offensive actions.
In the Kupiansk direction, the situation is more complicated: the Russian army has managed to partially divide Ukrainian groupings, weakening the defense in this area. Lakiychuk emphasizes that Russian troops are trying to break through to strategically important crossings over the Oskil River and establish a foothold on its western bank.
In the Kursk direction, the combat actions are of a maneuvering nature: both the AFU and the Russians are constantly relocating their troops. Lakiychuk compares this situation to a "vinaigrette," where the positions of Ukrainians and Russians are constantly changing.