Three major Ukrainian cities in the country’s east remain under constant attack, even as sporadic peace negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States continue.

A few weeks after the historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, the fighting continues. With a negotiated settlement between the two combatants remaining elusive, the situation on the battlefield continues to be fluid. 

Intense fighting in Ukraine continues more than three years after what Russian intelligence officials first advised Putin would be a three-day war. The heaviest of fighting is currently focused around three key logistics hubs within a 100-mile stretch of eastern Ukraine: Kupiansk, Lyman, and Pokrovsk.  

In both the Kupiansk and Lyman offensives, the Russian military is seeking to control important logistics hubs that will enable further offensive operations into Ukraine.

Russia Is Focused on Capturing Kupiansk-

In its latest intelligence update on the tactical situation, the British Ministry of Defence assessed that the Russian High Command is preparing for strikes against its priority targets.  

“Russian military activity has reduced in the Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts as Russian Ground Forces (RGF) relocate elements of its forces to other parts of the frontline. The relocation of forces is highly likely part of an attempt to increase pressure on priority axes, including in Donetsk Oblast,” London’s most recent intelligence estimate stated.  

Kupiansk was captured by Russia in the opening days of the conflict, but was later liberated by Ukraine during its successful eastern counteroffensive in the fall of 2022. Since the counteroffensive, Russia has begun slow advances back towards the city, gradually driving its defenders back.

Recent maps of the conflict show extensive action around the key logistics hub of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast. Over the past few days, the Ukrainian military has mounted successful counterattacks to the west of the town, driving Russian forces back and giving breathing room to Kupiansk’s embattled defenders. Kyiv made the counterattacks in an attempt to ease up the Russian pressure that has been building up around the town for months. 

Lyman Has Significant Strategic Value for Ukraine-

Approximately 45 miles to the south of Kupiansk, the Russian military is pushing for another key logistics hub: Lyman, located in the north of Ukraine’s largely-overrun Donetsk region.

“In the northern Donetsk region over the past ten days, Russian forces have advanced through and are contesting the Serebryansk forest. Russian forces have consolidated positions along the adjacent Siverskyi Donets river, serving as a natural defensive barrier,” the British Ministry of Defence added in its intelligence assessment.  

The Russian forces are very likely utilizing the forest near Lyman as cover from Ukraine’s deadly unmanned aerial systems, which has proven deadly to advancing Russian forces in flat terrain.  

“If Yampil is captured, it will likely serve as a potential launch point for assaults onto the city of Lyman, a key rail logistics hub 9 km [5.6 miles] north west of Yampil,” the intelligence estimate stated.  

In both the Kupiansk and Lyman offensives, the Russian military is seeking to control important logistics hubs that will enable further offensive operations into Ukraine.

Pokrovsk Remains the Epicenter of the Ukraine War-

Finally, the fierce fighting for the town of Pokrovsk—around 100 miles south of Kupiansk and 55 miles southwest of Lyman—continues, with no signs of easing up. The Russian military has been attacking the flanks of the Ukrainian town in an attempt to surround it and squeeze out the Ukrainian defenders.  

“Pokrovsk likely remains Russia’s priority axis, and the focus for the largest proportion of Russian assaults relative to the rest of the frontline. Russian forces are using a variety of assault methods, including motorcycle swarming and small group probing attacks, in attempts to infiltrate Ukrainian positions,” the British Ministry of Defence concluded in its intelligence assessment.  

The Russian military is finding success with its attritional model, sacrificing men and resources for important Ukrainian urban centers.