Ukraine Commander Vows to ‘Seize Initiative’ After Series of Russian Gains in Donetsk

Moscow, meanwhile, claims its forces destroyed a third U.S.-supplied Abrams tank near the Russian-held town of Avdiivka.

Ukrainian servicemen prepare their weapons during a military training exercise near the front line in the Donetsk region, on Feb. 23, 2024.Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images

A top Ukrainian military commander has vowed to resume offensive actions against Russian forces following a string of recent battlefield losses in the eastern Donetsk region.

“We will stabilize the situation shortly,” Gen. Oleksandr Pavliuk, Ukraine’s recently appointed ground forces commander, said in televised remarks.