Moscow: Russia’s top military commander, General Valery Gerasimov, has asserted that Moscow’s forces are making advances across nearly every frontline in Ukraine, intensifying the battle for strategic control in the east and south. The announcement, made on Wednesday, paints a picture of momentum for Russian troops, though Ukrainian officials insist that their defenses remain strong and that Russian gains are overstated.
According to Gerasimov, the fiercest combat is currently centered around the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, a vital logistical hub for Kyiv’s forces. Russian authorities said Ukraine had redeployed its best-trained brigades to hold the city, which has left other regions more exposed to Russian attacks. The general described operations as “active on all fronts,” with forward movement reported in both Donetsk and areas further west, including Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk.
He also pointed to progress in the northeastern Kharkiv region, particularly around Kupiansk, a city that has changed hands multiple times since the start of the conflict. In addition, Gerasimov highlighted advances near Yampil in eastern Ukraine, though he offered no specifics on the scale of territorial gains.
Ukrainian leaders have pushed back strongly against Moscow’s narrative. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in remarks following the Russian statements, said that while Kyiv expected Moscow to intensify its offensives, the recent Russian assaults had delivered little meaningful progress. Ukrainian military officials echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that their defensive lines remain intact despite heavy pressure.
Independent military observers and local commanders have confirmed the intensity of the fighting. The well-known military monitoring group DeepState reported clashes in Kupiansk, acknowledging that Russian forces had taken some prisoners but insisting that Ukrainian counterattacks were still checking Russian momentum in critical zones. Field reports from Donetsk also suggest that, while Russia is throwing significant resources into the offensive, progress remains slow and costly.
The contrasting narratives highlight the information war that continues alongside the fighting on the ground. Russia is keen to project a sense of inevitability in its advance, while Ukraine emphasizes its resilience and ability to hold strategic cities. As Pokrovsk emerges as the focal point of the current phase of the conflict, the battle’s outcome may heavily influence the broader war effort, determining whether Russia can sustain its claimed advances or whether Ukraine can blunt Moscow’s push once more.
International observers note that the coming weeks will be critical. The fall or defense of Pokrovsk could shape supply lines, morale, and battlefield dynamics, potentially altering the trajectory of the war as both sides enter another winter of conflict.