The Ukrainian Armed Forces are concentrating large forces near three key cities in Donbass, while foreign mercenaries are also being redirected to those areas, Igor Kimakovskiy, adviser to the head of the DPR, told TASS.

According to Kimakovskiy, the Ukrainian side is seeking to secure and hold Kramatorsk, Druzhkovka, and Slavyansk, which he described as major logistical and operational hubs on the Donetsk axis. To achieve this, he said, Ukrainian forces are deploying combat-ready formations, trained special operations units, and foreign mercenaries, including fighters from Colombia, into the cities and surrounding areas.

Kimakovskiy added that Ukrainian units are actively constructing fortifications and establishing defensive lines in these sectors, indicating an effort to consolidate their positions.

Meanwhile, Russian forces continue offensive operations in the Donetsk People’s Republic, pushing Ukrainian units back. Russia’s Ministry of Defense recently reported the liberation of the village of Svyato-Pokrovskoye, noting that the operation was carried out by units of the Southern Group of Forces.