Russia’s summer push in Ukraine targets three fronts but faces stern resistance

Russia Pushes Across Three Fronts in Ukraine, But Faces Fierce Resistance

Russia’s military summer campaign in Ukraine is intensifying across three key fronts, with drone and missile strikes hitting record levels. Despite claims of territorial gains, Moscow’s advances have been slow and costly, facing stern Ukrainian resistance on the ground.

According to the Ukrainian open-source platform DeepState, Russia captured 556 square kilometers last month—its largest land gain in 2024. But analysts caution that at this pace, it could take Russia more than 70 years to capture all of Ukraine.

Moscow’s goals appear to be cutting off Ukrainian supply lines in the east and creating a buffer zone inside Ukraine’s northern border. Yet its troops are encountering stiff resistance and logistical challenges.

Three Main Fronts, Slow Gains

Russia is pressing forward in:

• Sumy region (northeast, bordering Russia)

• Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka (strategic cities in the east)

• Novopavlivske direction (west of Pokrovsk)

In Sumy, Russian forces advanced 10–12 km into Ukrainian territory before being stopped. The push was meant to create a buffer zone after Ukraine briefly held Russian territory in Kursk last summer. With help from North Korean troops and ammunition, Russia recaptured that territory but now faces stalemates in Ukraine.

In Kharkiv, another northern region, Moscow claims to have seized a border village, but analysts say without significant reinforcements, further gains are unlikely. Observers believe these northern pushes aim to stretch Ukrainian forces thin across the 1,200-km front line.

Fighting Around Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka

Moscow’s main offensive is focused on Pokrovsk, a crucial hub in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine’s army chief, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, says 111,000 Russian troops are concentrated there.

Rather than large assaults, Russia is deploying small infantry groups that attack relentlessly—sometimes on foot, sometimes on motorbikes. This “creeping offensive” strategy is designed to wear down Ukrainian defenses, though it comes at a huge human cost.

Ukraine claims over 1,000 Russian casualties per day, though these figures are unverified. Moscow appears to be aiming to semi-encircle Ukrainian forces in Pokrovsk and force a retreat, but its advance is already slowing.

Breakthrough Further West, but Strategic Value Questioned

Russia’s most notable recent success has been west of Pokrovsk, in what Ukraine calls the Novopavlivske direction. Here, Moscow advanced up to 10 km per day after Ukrainian defenses faltered.

Some Russian bloggers even claimed troops reached the Dnipropetrovsk region, though Ukrainian officials say this was merely a staged photo op with a Russian flag before the intruders were eliminated. Still, independent sources like the Institute for the Study of War confirm Russian activity in the area.

However, Maj. Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern command, says this territory offers little strategic advantage, and the operation was likely aimed at boosting Russian propaganda rather than achieving military objectives.

Logistics Under Strain as Drone Warfare Escalates

Ukrainian troops face increasing difficulty resupplying front-line positions due to drone attacks targeting critical supply routes.

“Routes we used two months ago are now too dangerous, even at night,” said Staff Sgt. Viktor Pyasetskyi of the 93rd brigade near Kostyantynivka. Food, ammo, troop rotations, and medical evacuations have all become slower and riskier.

Russian drones, including the Gerbera, can fly hundreds of kilometers, striking areas once considered safe. Their use aims not only to destroy defenses but also to break civilian morale, Pyasetskyi noted.

As he spoke with the BBC by phone, the sound of drones roared overhead. Minutes later, an apartment block was struck. The sergeant later confirmed he had survived.

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