War in Ukraine persists as unfathomable for Ukrainian soldiers stationed at the front, despite the Washington summit concluding
In the heart of Eastern Ukraine, the Donbass war continues to rage on, with no end in sight. As of late August 2025, the conflict remains intense and dynamic, with Ukrainian forces making tactical advances despite ongoing Russian offensives and active frontlines.
Current Military Situation
Ukrainian forces have been pressuring Russian penetrations east and northeast of Dobropillya, retaking key settlements such as Nove Shakhove, Zapovidne, and Volodymyrivka, and clearing positions near important highways. These tactical successes along the western and eastern bases of the Russian penetration in the Donetsk region indicate a more effective Ukrainian strategy. However, Russian troops continue offensive efforts, particularly around Lyman and Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, albeit without significant breakthroughs.
Russian forces rely heavily on drone and artillery strike coordination to weaken Ukrainian defenses, aiming to disrupt logistics and defense lines. While Russian forces made territorial gains, including 226 square miles between July and early August, these have been incremental and costly, with Ukrainian defenses and counterattacks slowing the pace of Russian advances.
Fighting remains intense in urban areas such as Bakhmut and Marinka, where Russian Wagner PMC and separatist forces conduct heavy, attritional assaults with high casualties on both sides. This "meat grinder" combat results in minimal territorial changes despite extensive shelling and bombardment.
Russia is also involved in reconstruction efforts in Mariupol, reportedly using these to erase evidence of past war crimes, reflecting the complex overlay of military and political actions in the region.
Diplomatic Discussions and Perspectives
Despite ongoing negotiations, the situation remains militarized with no ceasefire in place. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has rejected Russian proposals that would cede parts of Donetsk, warning that such concessions risk enabling future offensives.
Diplomatic overtures include a U.S.-proposed bilateral meeting with Russia and plans for a trilateral meeting including Ukraine, indicating international efforts to mediate, though no major breakthrough has been announced.
The international community, including the EU (with Hungary as an outlier), insists on respecting Ukraine's borders and rejects changes achieved by force, underscoring firm diplomatic support for Ukrainian territorial integrity.
Russian officials continue to dismiss Western security guarantees for Ukraine, including NATO presence, maintaining a hard line that complicates negotiations.
Outlook
The conflict in Donbass is likely to continue with high-intensity combat and incremental shifts, as both sides invest heavily in defense and limited offensives. The Ukrainian army's recent territorial gains suggest it is improving its operational effectiveness, but the front remains contested and vulnerable to prolonged warfare.
Without substantive progress in dialogue, the military situation is expected to remain volatile, with the potential for further large-scale clashes, especially around critical hubs like Pokrovsk and Lyman. The soldiers at the command center do not trust that Vladimir Putin genuinely wants to end the war, and the commanders of the 1st battalion, 25th brigade express a shared sentiment that the war in Donbass will continue for an extended period.
The soldiers have been continuously engaged since the beginning of the war, which has been ongoing for three years. Oleksander, commander of the command center of the 1st battalion, 25th brigade, warns of the potential danger of small groups of Russian troops. Their mission is to defend the Donbass territory. The soldiers have a common feeling and conviction that the war will last much longer.
Two men have been spotted by a drone in the Donbass region. They expressed a strong resolve not to abandon the territory to Russia. The war in Donbass never stops on the ground. The soldiers in the command center do not place much hope in diplomatic discussions to end the war. Moscow has increased attacks on the Ukrainian soldiers in recent weeks. The meeting is taking place in a thicket of the Donetsk region, Ukraine.
The Ukrainian artillerymen are tasked with slowing down the advance of Russian soldiers in the Donbass. Their priority is to monitor the slightest movement of Russian troops in a secret command center. The soldiers are protective of their land and do not consider abandoning it, even if another party claims it. A soldier testified that since the resumption of negotiations, the Russians have become more active, and the situation is far from a ceasefire.
One soldier stated that if they retreat, Russia will likely attack them again within 5 to 6 years. The soldiers view Moscow's demands as synonymous with sacrifices. Despite the challenges, the soldiers remain resolute, determined to defend their land and uphold the integrity of Ukraine.
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