Russian forces continued to make territorial advances over the past day of fighting in Ukraine, analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Thursday.
ISW, a US military think tank that tracks battlefield progress in the war, said: "Russian forces continue to make slow, steady advances in the Pokrovsk direction" of Donetsk — a strategically important city west of Avdiivka that serves as a Ukrainian military transport hub.
The advances were confirmed by DeepState, a war-mapping service with ties to Ukraine's military. They reported Thursday that in the direction of Pokrovsk, Russian forces had captured the village of Vesele and advanced in four nearby settlements over the past day.
Russian advances are taking place in Ukraine because the country's defenders have insufficient weapons and equipment. The West must speed up shipments and lift the restrictions on long-range weapons in order to support the defense of the nation against Russian aggression.
The roots of the Ukraine conflict stem from trying to turn the country into a force to weaken Russia. As long as that aim continues, so too will Russia's Special Military Operation, along with its associated military gains.