Russian troops have seized largest Ukraine’s territory in one week since year’s beginning – Bloomberg

The Russian Federation's army has picked up momentum in their progress through eastern Ukraine, claiming more land last week than at any other time in 2024. This increases the pressure on Kyiv's American and European allies to strengthen its defenses.

Bloomberg reports this.

Over 200 square kilometers were gained during the arduous summer offensive, resulting in significant casualties and damage to Russian soldiers and equipment.

According to estimates by Bloomberg Intelligence, reported by the DeepState service in conjunction with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the Russian Federation has taken control of 1,146 square kilometers of Ukrainian land since August 6. This is approximately a twenty-five percent increase compared to the year's first seven months.

Assistance from partners to Ukraine

According to sources close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, the results of next week's elections in the United States could potentially leave Kyiv with a difficult decision: accepting an unfavorable peace deal or continuing to fight Russia without support. These sources, who requested anonymity, also reveal that officials are starting to feel disheartened about the current state of the war.

The Russian attack is still gradual, and Russia does not yet have complete control over the four eastern regions of Ukraine, which Vladimir Putin has declared part of his country in violation of international law. However, the Russian leader is taking advantage of the current state of the US presidential election and causing concern among Europe's allies, who are anxiously awaiting Donald Trump's potential victory. The Republican candidate has stated his intention to end the war promptly and has shown doubt in providing further Western aid for Ukraine's defense.

Zelensky informed the press that Ukraine's military received only 10% of the $61 billion aid package promised by the US in April due to bureaucratic and logistical delays. He has made multiple requests to the US, so far without success, for long-range weapons to allow Ukraine to target military sites in Russia.

According to two officials from Western countries who are familiar with the situation, NATO allies are hesitant to offer further assistance to Ukraine due to concerns about exacerbating the conflict with Russia. They mentioned that the allies do not perceive any indications that Russia is willing to engage in discussions to end the war.

The situation at the front

Ukrainian troops still hold the Kursk region of Russia. The surprise assault in August was intended to alleviate the tension in eastern Ukraine and resulted in Moscow relocating some of its soldiers. So far, Russia has not shown any indication of being diverted.

This week, Russian troops took control of the town of Selydove. The cities of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove are expected to be their next objectives. These two cities are crucial logistical hubs for Ukraine's defense in the Donetsk region. If Putin gains control of these cities, it will be a significant step towards his goal of capturing the entire industrial east of Ukraine.

Ukrainian troops gradually lose ground in the Kursk region as the Russian Federation intensifies its offensive. Thousands of North Korean soldiers have arrived in the area and could soon join Russian forces on the battlefield, US and South Korean officials say.

"Russian territorial gains over the past three months are likely the result of the numerical superiority of Russian forces and their dominance in the use of artillery due to the much greater availability of shells than Ukrainian forces. However, these local Russian successes do not indicate a turning point in the war, which remains a war of attrition," Alex Kokcharov, a geoeconomic analyst for Russia and Eastern Europe at Bloomberg Economics, said.

Mobilization in Ukraine and the Russian Federation

The law, which took effect in May, lowered Ukraine's draft age from 27 to 25 and required men to register for possible conscription. However, the mobilization has caused tensions among the population as Ukraine seeks to expand its army, which remains outnumbered by Russian forces.

Ukraine intends to mobilize more than 160,000 people as part of its conscription plan, Oleksandr Lytvynenko, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, told the deputies. According to him, more than 1 million people have already been drafted.

Russia is also struggling to sustain its military effort, which has included sending waves of troops into defensive positions in Ukraine, suffering casualties that the US this week estimated at 1,200 a day.

The Kremlin hesitates to issue another mobilization, worried about causing more domestic tensions like those after the request for 300,000 reservists in September 2022. Instead, they are relying on increasing the call-up bonuses to convince Russians to volunteer for military contracts to combat in Ukraine.

Putin looked to Iran for drones and North Korea for missiles and millions of artillery shells to provide for his army in Ukraine. The Russian defense industry is struggling to boost production even more in conditions of an overheated economy.

According to Ben Barry, senior fellow in land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, Russia does not currently appear to have the strategic resources to develop its tactical achievements on the battlefield for a decisive breakthrough in the war. "The chances of either side achieving a breakthrough are very slim," he said.

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Over the past few weeks, the enemy's gradual progress has persisted, and there have been no signs of slowing down on multiple fronts – in Kupiansk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhiv, and Vuhledar.

It should be mentioned that the Kurakhiv front is currently the most active in terms of combat engagements. It can be likened to the Pokrovsk sector, where intense fighting has been ongoing for a considerable time.

In the south of Ukraine, the Russian occupiers have concentrated about 200,000 of their fighters. These forces include the occupation forces in Crimea.

On the Vremivka front, the Russian invaders are getting ready to launch attacks using armored vehicles. They're not just using them to transport assault teams but also to provide fire support for their infantry.