Russian troops could establish control over Dobropolye by the end of the summer, military expert Vasily Dandykin said in an interview with NEWS.ru.

According to Dandykin, Russian units have opportunities to advance near Druzhkovka and Dobropolye. Ukrainian forces are continuing to resist and are moving additional troops into these areas.

He said the situation would largely depend on the intensity of Russian strikes on land, at sea and in western Ukraine.

Dandykin also noted that Russian forces had moved to within several kilometers of Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. However, he warned that further advances along this section of the front would not be easy.

The expert expects active fighting across different parts of the front to continue until the end of the year. In his assessment, Russian troops could make further gains, although the battle for Donbass is not yet over.

The Russian Defense Ministry previously reported that Russian forces had taken control of Yurchenkovo, Mogritsa, Malaya Slobodka and Krasnoyarskoye.