Since May 2022, Donbas has been the main military objective pursued by Russia 🇷🇺, which concentrated its firepower and forces in the industrial region
The battle for Donbas has now been going on for 13 years, while Russia hopes to capture the last remaining cities (Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, Drujkivka, Dobropilla and Lyman) in the coming years. This battle significantly destroyed the region, its mines, industries and killed or displaced its population. For 3 years, Russia has been struggling to advance in a heavily fortified terrain. Thanks to a breakthrough in May 2024, they unblocked the situation in the south-western part of the region (around Pokrovsk). However, this barely opened any further possibilities to capture all the region. Thus, Russian forces need to fight their ground in every city, village and mine, as it was the case for 1 year in Toretsk, 1 year in Pokrovsk, 1 year in Kostiantynivka...
For Ukraine, the remaining part of Donbas remains important for one main reason : it is heavily fortified and prevents further offensive into farmlands of central Ukraine and the heavily populated and rich region of Dnipropetrovsk.
Donbas battle will remain as one of the longest and bloodiest battle in history. City after city, this battle will continue and nothing guarantees that Russia will not push further, as it will need the waters from the Dnipro river to rebuild Donbas industries and mines.
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