Russia on the Back Foot in Donetsk Region (Video)

Ukrainian forces have successfully recaptured the small settlement of Dniproenerhaya in Donetsk Oblast’s Volnovakha district and made tactical advances in two key areas, according to frontline commanders. The village, situated along the Mokri Yaly River in the Komar community, lies roughly 20 miles (32 kilometres) northwest of Russian-occupied Vuhledar. Before Russia’s invasion, it had a population of just 100.

Commander of the Vuhledar Tactical Group, Lieutenant Naiev, reported that during the past two months of intensified operations, his unit had reduced personnel losses by 20 percent and regained control of the settlement. He added that Ukrainian positions had also been significantly improved in nearby critical sectors.

Although the exact date of the village’s liberation has not been revealed, independent monitoring platform Deep State noted the area was still partially contested as of 14 April, with Russian troops showing activity near settlements including Katerinivka, Tykhe, and Pishchene.

Naiev stated that in just two months, Ukrainian forces had eliminated approximately 9,500 Russian soldiers and destroyed a total of 51 tanks, 166 armoured vehicles, and 819 additional military assets in that sector.

Russian losses in Donetsk sector (last two months)

In a dramatic intensification of Russia’s spring offensive, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed that Russian forces have launched new assaults, particularly around the critical logistics hub of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. The Kremlin’s troops have attempted multiple breakthroughs along various frontlines. However, Ukrainian forces have maintained resilience, executing counterattacks and reclaiming territory.

In a striking report from the field, a Russian woman recounted a conversation with a relative in the Russian army who revealed that wounded soldiers were told to carry no medical kits because “no one will come to get you.” He added that troops were advised to “set one bullet aside” for themselves. The emotional account further exposed the grim conditions and disregard for Russian soldiers’ lives by their own command.

On 14 April, Ukrainian forces repelled a major Russian offensive near Velyka Novosilka, where over 20 Russian armoured vehicles and 41 motorcycles were deployed in a two-wave assault. Ukraine’s 31st Mechanised Brigade and the 3rd Mechanised Battalion of the Presidential Brigade halted the attack, destroying 13 vehicles and inflicting around 40 Russian casualties.

Elsewhere, the battle for Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast remains intense. Once home to 30,000 people, the city is now in ruins. Ukrainian elite units have achieved notable progress in the southern and north eastern parts of Toretsk, reportedly collapsing Russian defensive lines after a nine month engagement. On a single day, Ukrainian forces killed 286 Russian soldiers in Toretsk, including troops from Russia’s elite 1st Separate Guards Motorised Rifle Brigade.

Ukraine’s air force also struck a concentration of Russian troops in the same area, adding to the pressure on Moscow’s exhausted fighting units. Despite repeated Russian attacks, Ukrainian defenders have maintained their grip on strategic positions, continuing to inflict heavy losses on enemy forces.

In parallel developments, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Ukraine’s intention to purchase ten Patriot missile defence systems from the United States at a total estimated cost of 12 billion pounds (15 billion US dollars). Some European partners may assist in financing the acquisition. Zelensky lamented that Ukraine had not yet received additional Patriot systems promised at the 2024 NATO summit in Washington.

In a separate statement, US President Donald Trump again pushed false claims that Zelensky had started the war with Russia. These remarks have drawn criticism, as Zelensky was not even in office during Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. Trump’s isolationist agenda has also been linked to internal White House documents proposing deep cuts to funding for NATO and the United Nations, risking further global instability.

Hungary, long seen as the Kremlin’s ally within the European Union, has threatened to veto Ukraine’s EU membership, block financial assistance to Kyiv, and refuse participation in the EU’s military training programme. Budapest also opposes sanctions on Russia’s nuclear industry and continues importing Russian energy.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski sharply criticised Hungary, accusing it of lacking moral clarity. “Putin talks about peace while bombing civilians and killing children,” he said. “When the victim wants a ceasefire, and the aggressor escalates, that tells us everything.”