[54580] Fighting in Ukraine continues: Russia continues a series of attacks despite the declaration of a truce

Reality on the ground: Intense fighting continues despite the "truce"

Despite the declaration of a three-day temporary truce, Ukraine's security branches report that in practice, the fighting has not stopped. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 144 combat clashes were recorded in the last day alone, with the Russians using thousands of kamikaze drones and carrying out hundreds of shellings on settlements and military positions. The Pokrovsk sector remains the most volatile focus with dozens of Russian attack attempts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that although there were no massive missile attacks or airstrikes, "there was no quiet in the front-line sectors and the communities adjacent to them." Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is adopting a policy of "mirror response" – as long as there are no massive strategic attacks by Russia, Ukraine refrains from deep strikes, but warns that "if the Russians decide to return to war in full format, our sanctions for this will be immediate and felt."

At the same time, The New York Times reports that an analysis by military research groups (such as the Black Bird Group) shows that the pace of advancement of Russian forces over the last three months is the lowest since 2023. The report attributes the slowdown to Ukraine's extensive use of drone technologies, logistical difficulties on the Russian side, and a decrease in contract recruitment volumes in Russia.

Regarding casualties, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the elimination of about 840 Russian soldiers in the last day, alongside the destruction of dozens of artillery systems, anti-aircraft assets, and nearly 1,500 unmanned aerial vehicles. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimates that Russia is utilizing the "truce" days for reorganization and strengthening positions ahead of future stages of the fighting, and not to reach a real ceasefire.