The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced the capture of two rural settlements in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine. In a brief update on Telegram, the Ministry detailed that it had taken control of Spirne and Novoaleksandrovka, areas which Russia recognizes as part of the Donetsk People’s Republic. This announcement comes amidst ongoing heavy fighting in the region, although Ukraine’s military has yet to confirm the loss of these territories. More details can be found on the official Telegram channel of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Donetsk is one of the four regions Russia claimed to have annexed following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, Russian forces only partially control these provinces, with significant areas remaining under Ukrainian authority. The extended conflict over Donetsk and the neighboring Luhansk region, collectively known as the Donbas, has persisted since 2014. The Russian government officially recognized the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, but this recognition has not been accepted by Ukraine. Background information on the conflict in Ukraine’s Donbas region can be found in a visual explainer by the International Crisis Group, available here.
The conflict has escalated significantly since 2022, drawing responses from the international community, including the United Nations and an investigation by the International Criminal Court into alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine. Last month, the Donetsk People’s Republic came under scrutiny following a report by Global Rights Compliance documenting the use of starvation as a method of warfare by Russian forces. This report, accessible here, details the dire humanitarian situation in the region.
Efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine have gained international traction. A recent Ukraine Peace Summit hosted in Switzerland saw participation from over 100 countries aiming to resolve the conflict through global cooperation. Periodic prisoner exchanges continue, facilitated by international intermediaries such as the United Arab Emirates. The most recent exchange, involving 180 prisoners, is detailed here.