Russia Intensifies Eastern Ukraine Offensive: Strategic Gains in Donetsk and Kursk Amid Ukrainian Command Crisis

Russian troops advance near Donetsk (Sputnik Novosti). Moscow’s combined arms tactics exploit Ukraine’s ammunition shortages and command breakdowns.Photo:EFE.

April 27, 2025 Hour: 6:49 pm

Russian forces consolidate territorial gains in Donetsk and Kursk as Ukraine faces critical shortages and command breakdowns. Reports detail collapsing brigades and NATO depot strikes.

On April 27, 2025 , Russian military forces have escalated operations across eastern Ukraine, securing strategic villages in Donetsk and claiming full control of Kursk Oblast after months of heavy fighting. Ukrainian commanders acknowledge severe ammunition shortages and collapsing unit cohesion, raising questions about the West’s commitment to sustained military support.

Russian troops captured Valentinovka, a southern Donetsk stronghold, and advanced toward Romanovka, bypassing Ukrainian fortifications near Toretsk. Moscow’s lightning push southwest of Toretsk threatens to encircle Ukrainian brigades in Shcherbinovka, a maneuver that could force Kyiv into a costly retreat. Su-34 bombers and Geran-2 drones have targeted retreating units, destroying armored vehicles and artillery.

The text reads: Geranium drone flights targeting objectives in Ukraine

Russia’s Defense Ministry declared the “complete elimination” of Ukrainian resistance in Oleshnya and Gornal, areas contested since Ukraine’s August 2024 incursion. The 95th Airborne Brigade reportedly suffered command defections, with soldiers citing ammunition shortages and abandoned equipment. While Kyiv denies full withdrawal, independent analysts confirm Russian advances backed by North Korean personnel.

Strategic Strikes: Kharkiv Drone Plants and NATO Depots Hit

Russian missiles targeted Kharkiv’s drone production facilities and a Zaporizhzhia ammunition depot linked to NATO supplies. Satellite imagery purportedly shows destroyed infrastructure critical to Ukraine’s Crimea operations. Moscow claims Ukrainian air defenses failed to intercept advanced Geran-2 missiles.

General Oleksandr Syrskyi admitted Russia’s “numerical and technical superiority” is overwhelming in frontline units. At least three brigades have lost contact with commanders, mirroring the 95th Airborne’s collapse. Social media footage shows abandoned Western-supplied equipment, underscoring Kyiv’s logistical strain.

The U.S. has abandoned deadlines for resolving the conflict, signaling potential disengagement. Ukrainian soldiers report artillery ratios as low as 1:5 against Russian forces, with European munitions shipments delayed. The strikes on NATO-linked depots highlight vulnerabilities in Western supply chains.