Russian forces have begun advancing into the western part of Kirovsk — known in Ukrainian as Zarechne — in the Donetsk People’s Republic, according to military analyst Andrey Marochko. He reported that forward units, working alongside reconnaissance groups, had entered the area northwest of Torske, while Ukrainian troops attempted to resist, primarily from elevated positions south of Torske and from positions southwest of Yampolivka. Marochko noted that Ukrainian forces in this sector are struggling with a shortage of personnel. As a result, they are avoiding direct combat where possible, relying instead on long-range strikes and remote engagement. The Russian military continues its special operation in Ukraine, launched on February 24, 2022, with offensives intensifying across multiple fronts. Ukrainian defensive positions, according to Russian assessments, remain under significant pressure. State Duma deputy Viktor Sobolev earlier stated that after securing full control of the Donbas, Russian forces intend to launch offensives in three new directions. In addition to ongoing operations in Sumy, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, he said future plans include extending the campaign into Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Chernihiv regions.