Russian forces are advancing in the Donetsk oblast, according to reports, as maps showed the latest state of play on the front line in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.
Pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel Politika Strana said on Wednesday that Moscow's troops had made "significant progress" in the Vuhledar, Pokrovsk-Kurakhove and Toretsk directions.
"To the east, near Kamyanske, Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have become more active," the post said, adding that the to the west Russians had advanced north of Vuhledar, which was captured earlier this month.
The X account Ukraine Control Map, which tracks the war's latest developments, posted on Tuesday a graphic that showed some of Russia's advances.
It said that Russian forces raised the flag just east of Siversk, "indicating large advances that are odd if taken at face value," it said next to the map, adding that, Moscow's troops "raised their flag in Zhelanne Pershe, near Hirnyk" and that there were advances in the Toretsk direction.
Daily Ukraine map thread for Tuesday 8th October 2024
— Ukraine Control Map (@UAControlMap) October 9, 2024
Highlights: Interestingly, Russian forces raised the flag in Hryhorivka and Verkhnokamyanske just east of Siversk, indicating large advances that are odd if taken at face value. We can't tell if the Hryhorivka forces advanced… pic.twitter.com/6l6depEXBI
It comes amid growing concerns about the potential collapse of the Ukrainian front, as Russia continues its push towards the strategic town of Pokrovsk, whose capture could see a breakthrough by Moscow further west and reinforce its attempt to capture the entire Donetsk oblast.
Ukrainian journalist Volodymyr Boyko, who is fighting with Ukrainian forces, wrote on October 3 on Facebook: "The collapse of the army has reached such a scale that no measures will help, there are simply no people at the front."
Meanwhile, in its most recent update, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Russian forces had reportedly pushed west of Donetsk city and seized half of Maksymilyanivka.
Its map, published Monday, of the terrain east of Pokrovsk illustrates how Russian forces have advanced southwest of the city of Novohrodivka, southeast of Ostrivske and seized Tsukuryne, according to Ukrainian and Russian sources.