UKRAINE/RUSSIA – Ukraine’s army chief has warned that his forces are facing “one of the most powerful Russian offensives”, since the start of the war as Russia claimed it captured more settlements on the eastern frontline.

Russia has steadily been making gains in the eastern Donbas region, which Russia’s President Vladimir Putin aims to capture in full. Reuters, citing open source data, reported that Russia has been advancing at its fastest pace in at least a year.

Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, said the situation on the front line “remains difficult” and certain areas “require constant renewal of resources of Ukrainian units” in a statement on Telegram Saturday morning. Kyiv’s forces, he said, are “holding back one of the most powerful Russian offensives since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.” Over the weekend, Russia claimed the capture of two settlements in the Donetsk region – Kurakhivka and Vyshneve. Ukrainian officials have not confirmed either claim. Vyshneve is close to Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub in the east and a major target of the Russian offensive. Meanwhile Russian drone attacks continue, with Ukraine bracing for what could be a difficult winter with energy infrastructure already badly hit. (CNN)

Photo: The city of Toretsk, eastern Ukraine. The region has been facing a renewed Russian assault. (Reuters)…[+]