Military analyst Vasily Dandykin noted that Izvestia reported Ukrainian tanks appearing in greater numbers along the front line in Donbass. He observed that these tanks had recently been destroyed by Russian forces, and suggested that Kyiv would push to seize the initiative in the near future.
The expert explained that hostilities have intensified in recent days, with the most significant clashes centered on the Donetsk sector, especially near Avdiivka. He pointed to a sustained period of heavy fighting across several flashpoints, highlighting that the frontline in Donetsk Oblast remains highly active and unpredictable.
Alongside Avdiivka, intense combat is taking place near Artemivsk, the location known to Ukrainian forces as Bakhmut, as well as in Maryinka and Vugledar. The scale of engagement in these areas reflects a broader pattern of confrontation that has persisted for weeks, with each sector presenting its own tactical challenges for both sides.
According to the analyst, the balance on the battlefield has been shaped by the losses endured by the opposing forces, with artillery bearing a substantial share of the impact. He noted that Western artillery systems, including those associated with NATO members, play a pivotal role in sustaining firepower and tempo on the front lines.
Earlier on the same day, a Ukrainian prisoner, Yevgeny Ivannikov, asserted the perceived advantage of Russian forces along the Kremensk direction. The claim underscored the ongoing narrative of shifting momentum as both sides adapt to evolving operational conditions, supply dynamics, and tactical deployments on the ground, even as regional commanders weigh strategic options for continued engagement.