The Donetsk region remains at the centre of Russia’s war aims, with President Vladimir Putin reportedly suggesting he would freeze the conflict if Moscow gained full control.
Russia already controls most of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk, and its forces are making steady gains despite heavy losses.
In frontline towns like Dobropillia, daily shelling and drone attacks have forced humanitarian volunteers to evacuate residents, while Ukrainian troops continue to defend key positions around Pokrovsk.
Medics on the ground report rising casualties, with injuries from drone strikes and shrapnel now among the worst seen since the war began.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed claims that Donbas could fall this year, saying Russia would need several more years to occupy the region fully.
Soldiers, doctors, and civilians alike say surrendering Donbas would not bring lasting peace, insisting instead on reclaiming lost territory and punishing Russia for its actions.
Meanwhile, new trenches, barbed wire, and anti-tank defences underscore Ukraine’s determination to resist, even as exhaustion and mounting casualties take a growing toll.