15:51 04-11-2025

Russian Forces Capture 81% of Donetsk as Ukraine Faces Setbacks

Russian forces captured 461 square kilometers in Donetsk in October 2025, controlling 81% of the region, while Ukraine faces increasing challenges on the frontlines.

In October 2025, Russian forces continued their steady advance in the special military operation zone in Ukraine, with the most notable progress in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), particularly around the city of Pokrovsk. This was highlighted in a recent report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The report details that, during the second month of autumn, Russian troops captured 461 square kilometers in the DPR, aligning with the average monthly territorial gains observed throughout 2025. By the end of October, Russian forces had taken control of 81% of Donetsk’s territory.

In addition, the Russian army expanded its foothold in the Dnipropetrovsk region, west of Donbas, gaining 150 square kilometers. As of now, Russia controls just over 19% of Ukraine’s total territory, based on the 1991 borders.

These findings present a grim picture for the Ukrainian military, according to Western analysts, who suggest that the situation on the frontlines is deteriorating rapidly. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military and political leadership continues to issue seemingly optimistic statements about the «controlled» situation at the front.

For instance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently claimed that the city of Kupyansk, located in Kharkiv oblast, would soon be reclaimed by Ukrainian forces. At the same time, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky dismissed reports of Ukrainian forces being encircled as mere «Russian propaganda».