Russia's summer offensive becomes an escalating crisis for Ukraine

Russia's summer offensive becomes an escalating crisis for Ukraine

Near Pokrovsk, in the east of Ukraine, the silence, moonless night is only interrupted by the sum of a Russian drone approach. Dmytro, the head of a small field hospital with only two beds, has not received any wounded soldiers that night. In the event of a day, which usually represents the safest time for the evacuation of wounded, the hospital remains empty, while the enemy drones continuously circle above it.

The difficult situation in evacuation

"We have a very difficult situation in evacuation," says Dmytro. "Many wounded people have to wait for days. For the Russian drone pilots, it is an honor to kill doctors and wounded." The wounded soldiers do not arrive that night. The sky above this stabilization point, just 12 kilometers from the Russian lines, is overcrowded with drones, which makes it impossible to evacuate the injured safely. On the street, the struggle for the key town of Pokrovsk, which has been in sight of the Kremlin for months and has now been threatened by encirclement.

Russia's offensive strategy

across eastern Ukraine, Russia's small profits add up. The country uses a number of small progress and invests considerable resources in a emerging summer offensive, which could possibly re -shape the balance of power on the front. In four days of reporting in the villages behind Kostiannivka and Pokrovsk, two of the most competitive cities in the Donetsk region, CNN was able to observe the rapid changes in the control conditions.

President Trump and the geopolitical consequences

The Russian offensive coincides with a remarkable change in US farming: President Donald Trump has shortened the deadline for a peace conclusion between Russia and Ukraine from 50 to a maximum of 12 days. He expressed that he was "very disappointed" by President Putin and assumed that he had already decided to reject the ceasefire offered by the USA and its European allies for months. This shortened period is welcomed by Kiev and could give the western capitals a stronger feeling of urgency in terms of diplomatic or military support for Ukraine.

The critical location in Pokrovsk

The tense circumstances around Pokrovsk are particularly noticeable; The city has been expensive by Russia for months. A Ukrainian commander who is in use at Pokrovsk outlines a "very bad scenario" in which troops in the neighboring city of Myrnohrad risk being "encircled". Russian troops have already occupied the nearby village of Rodynske and have reached the edge of Biletske, which endangers the supply lines for the Ukrainian troops in Pokrovsk.

The threat of Russian drones

The Moscow troops' offensive has only gradually progressed in the past few months, but the acceleration of their attacks is worrying. It becomes particularly dangerous for Kiev when Pokrovsk, Kostiannivka and Kupiansk are encircled in the coming weeks. The loss of these cities would lead to three immediate crises for Kiev and leave the Ukrainian troops without protective huts and supply bases. In addition, enormous Russian forces that could specifically advance on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk would be released, the largest cities in the Donetsk that are still under Ukrainian control.

The experiences of the civilian population and the failure of the Ukrainian leadership

in the city of Dobropilia, which was recently attacked by Russian drones, locals report a drastic deterioration in the security situation. Local bus traffic was discontinued due to the rapidly deteriorating situation, which forces the population to get to safety in armored police vans or their own vehicles. The Ukrainians on site are unsettled and report on a rapid acceptance of control by the Ukrainian armed forces.

The dynamic situation in Kostiantynivka also shows worrying trends. The Ukrainian troops report rapid Russian advances, while drones specifically attack civil vehicles. A commander of the 93rd mechanized brigade criticizes that he has not received any new soldiers for months and has been forced to supply his two remaining soldiers with drones.

The acute crisis in the Ukrainian manpower, the unrest in the relationship with Trump's administration and the uncertain weapons supply create a perfect storm front that fulfills in view of the persistence and determination of the Russian summer offensive. This offensive could change the conflict sustainably and put Putin dangerously close to some of his goals.