Russia Has Made Key Gains in Donbas. What Does It Mean for the War?
Published on October 5, 2024
More than two and a half years since Russia invaded eastern Ukraine, Moscow’s forces have seized the initiative in the eastern Donbas region, the total control of which remains a key Russian objective. Kyiv, meanwhile, has been thrown on the defensive and continues to struggle with serious shortages of both manpower and military equipment. In the past two months alone, swiftly advancing Russian forces have taken several strategic positions in Donbas, begging the question: Is Russia poised to win the war? While most Western observers note that Russia is making steady headway in Donbas, they are quick to dismiss the notion of an imminent Russian victory in Ukraine....