Russian Army Achieves Year’s Fastest Advance Against Ukrainain Forces

The Russian Army on August 12 achieved its fastest advance against Ukrainain forces since the start of the year, with an analysis of data by the Institute for the Study of War noting that on August 12 Russian ground units “captured or claimed to have captured” 110 square kilometres of territory that was previously Ukrainian held. Although Russian forces have been advancing quickly for several months, this capture of territory was five to six times the average rate, and by far the fastest in sixteen months since May 2024. Advances have accelerated since Ukrainian forces were routed in the Russian Kursk region, which not only saw the Ukrainain Army and supporting Western forces take very significant manpower and material losses, but also allowed the Russian Army to refocus its forces towards the frontlines in the disputed Donbas regions. The entry of North Korean personnel into the war, which currently guard Kursk from future Ukrainian attacks, has further taken pressure of Russian forces.

Commenting on the state of Ukrainian defences, former chief of staff of the Ukrainian Army’s elite Azov Brigade Lieutenant Colonel Bogdan Krotevich claimed that positions in the disputed Donbas regions are facing disaster, with Russian units poised to achieve two major encirclements. “I honestly don’t know what exactly you are being told, but I can tell you: the Pokrovsk-Konstantinovka line is, without exaggeration, a complete f**k up. And this f**k up has been growing for a long time, getting messier every day,” he stated in an open letter to President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 11, the day before Russian ground units made their record advance.

Pokrovsk has been surrounded by Russian forces, while Konstantinovka is facing semi-encirclement, Krotevich further noted, sharing a map which he claimed showed the situation in the area, which corroborated media reports of a major Russian breakthrough to the north of Pokrovsk. The rate of Russian advances has been considered a primary factor leading the United States to intensify efforts to achieve a ceasefire, which would provide Ukrainain forces with much needed time to rebuild. This has also led European states to issue threats to more actively intervene in the conflict.