Threat of New Attacks Using Banned Chemical Agents in Donbas: Russian Drones Step Up Operations
On a key frontline sector in Donbas, Russian occupation forces are actively deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to drop prohibited chemical substances and gases, in clear violation of international conventions. According to the deputy commander of the 68th Separate Hunter Brigade named after Oleksa Dovbush, known by the call sign 'Italian,' these actions pose an increasing danger to Ukrainian defenders and complicate the military situation on the ground. He reports that Russian forces have intensified remote mining of logistics routes, hindering Ukrainian efforts to deliver ammunition swiftly and safely, and making troop rotations more difficult. Furthermore, the occupiers are establishing dispersed gathering points for their soldiers to facilitate maneuvering and transfer units across different front sectors, often trying to bypass fortified Ukrainian positions to undermine logistical chains. Ukrainian Armed Forces General Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi states that approximately 111,000 Russian soldiers are concentrated in the Pokrovsk direction, aiming to reach the administrative border of Donetsk region. Ukrainian troops on the right flank of Pokrovsk are forcing the enemy to move predominantly on foot and rarely use military equipment, maintaining a defensive stance. Meanwhile, Russia is pushing in the directions of Bohatyr and Myrnohrad, seeking weak spots in Ukrainian defenses and maneuvering around fortified areas to complicate logistics and pose a threat to Ukrainian military personnel. Military analyst Vitaliy Kononuchenko notes in his article “Shadows over Pokrovsk: How Ukraine Is Stabilizing the Front and Halting the Enemy in Donetsk” that the situation remains tense, yet Ukrainian forces continue to demonstrate resilience and the ability to counter the enemy's advances in the region.