Russia Has Made Key Gains in Donbas. What Does It Mean for the War?

In the past two months alone, swiftly advancing Russian forces have taken several strategic positions in the eastern region.

Ukrainian servicemen of the 43rd Artillery Brigade fire a 2S7 Pion self-propelled cannon toward Russian positions at the front line in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Sept. 27, 2024. Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images

More than 2 1/2 years since Russia invaded eastern Ukraine, Moscow’s forces have seized the initiative in the eastern Donbas region, whose total control remains a key Russian objective.

Kyiv, meanwhile, has been thrown on the defensive and continues to struggle with serious shortages of both manpower and military equipment.