Russian forces have stepped up infantry pressure on Ukrainian positions in Donbass with the arrival of spring, CNN reports, citing military experts and Ukrainian servicemen.

According to the report, Russian operations now involve dozens of tanks and armored vehicles, while the intensity of combat has noticeably increased. At the same time, the offensive appears to be gaining momentum rather than slowing down.

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Alexander Syrsky, recently indicated that improving weather conditions had enabled Russian troops to intensify attacks across several sectors of the front. Over the course of several consecutive days, the number of combat engagements exceeded 200.

Dmitry Zaporozhets, a representative of Ukraine’s 11th Corps, said Russian forces are reinforcing their presence in Donbass, bringing in additional troops, strengthening artillery and tactical aviation, and making extensive use of drones.

One of the main axes of the Russian advance is the area around Krasny Liman, near Donetsk-a fortified position seen as a key gateway toward Slavyansk.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War in Washington point to a shift in Russian tactics. Battalion-level assaults are now exceeding the scale of most mechanized operations seen in recent months.

Ukrainian military sources also report a buildup of Russian armored and motorized units in the Kramatorsk direction, alongside a sharp increase in artillery and air activity, which has reportedly doubled.

Facing a numerical disadvantage, Ukrainian forces are relying heavily on drones to compensate. One Ukrainian serviceman told CNN that the constant presence of reconnaissance and strike UAVs is gradually expanding the so-called gray zone between opposing positions.